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THOMAS WILLIAMS BICKNELL 




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M\^tmt — 3llu0trate& 



®I|omaH W. lurktttU 



1908 

ASSOCIATED PUBLISHERS OF AMERICAN RBCORDS 
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT 



r'^tfi 



No. 



119 



U8MRY o»Cyr*uSLoa? 
I «K) CiiDies Heceivtfd 

JUN 23 1908 



Copyright 1908 

BY 

THOMAS W. BICKNELL 
Providence, R, I. 



This book, Sowams, is the product of forty years of honest work. 
My brain, conscience, and heart are in it. My native town, Barrington 
of 1908, the civil community that lias been founded on the territory of 
Ancient Sowams, has been a faithful fostering mother to me and I have 
tried to be a loyal son ; — loyal to her traditions, her history, and her 
present life. I am proud of the fact that the Great Sachem, Osamequin, 
better known as Massassoit, with his trusty, dusky tribesmen, dwelt on 
Barrington soil. I am proud of the fact that 

(Snurrnor William l^raftfnrb, QII|nmaa ©lark, 

(Sla^atn iHgIra ^tanbiatf, Sftiljn IHinHlnto, 

^avttnav QI!|nmaa J^rinrr, ^nrlm Hittslnw. 

(i>0tirntnr lEbuiarii Wtnabtu, lExprmnre Wittslntit, 

(Bavtvnav 3IoataI| Winalnui, William Wliitr, 

Olaptain ®l|nmaa Wilbtt, Slranlup Wljitp, 

Sntfti A&ama, Prrrgrinr Wi\iU, 

anh 

Qllinmaa dualiman, 

the distinguished Founders of Plymouth town and Colony and Fathers 
of the American State, were the actual founders and owners of our noble 
town in its embryo life. 

I am proud that Rev. John Myles and his associates, founded on 
Barrington soil the First Baptist Church of Massachusetts, and that this 
apostle of civil and religious freedom sleeps in Barrington soil, where 
probably the great Massassoit also rests in peace. 

I am proud of the men and women who have builded on these grand 
foundations. 

My prayer is that the future sons and daughters of Barrington, as 
the generations and centuries come and go, may be faithful to the prin- 
ciples of the immortal Founders of this town and of the Plymouth Com- 
monwealth, may preserve their traditions, and have no cause to blush 
for the men and deeds of our own time. 



i^Jitratorg 



The Book of ANCIENT SOWAMS, I dedicate to my honored 
grandfather, 



3l0Bl|«a Itrkn^U 



Farmer's Son ; Farmer ; Soldier in the War of the American Revolution ; 
Representative and Senator in the General Assembly ; Associate 
Justice of the Supreme Court ; Counsellor ; for forty years Treasurer 
of the Congregational Church, Barrington, R. I. 

His Purity, Nobility, Integrity, and Justice merited the title, " Old 
Aristides." 

"Of no man may it be more justly said, he has lived devoted to the 
best interests of Rhode Island. No man more ardently loved his 
country." 




OWAMS is the result of much reading, of careful, pains- 
taking study, of much discussion, public and private, and 
of an honest and deliberate judgment. As to the correct- 
ness of my main arguments and conclusions, I have no 
more doubt than I have of my own existence. 
The errors of some writers as to the location of Sowams are readily 
traced to the acceptance of very partial and unreliable data. Few men 
have the patience and fewer still the material for original historical inves- 
tigation, and repeat w^hat another has written. It has been my privilege 
to have had my birth and early home within the Indian territory known as 
Sowams. About the year 1870, it was my good fortune to find, in the 
possession of the town clerk of Warren, the original records of Sowams, 
which had been lost to the proprietors for many years. At the death 
of Brigadier-General Thomas Allin of West Barrington in 1800, this 
ancient book was at his home. No one now living can trace its wan- 
derings from the home of the last proprietors' clerk to the possession of 
Henry Hicks Luther of Warren. The most that can be said is that town 
clerks and proprietors' clerks were in the habit of freely loaning record 
books to their friends, or others interested, as other books are loaned 
to-day, and it has been my fortune to find and return to their proper 
ownership four valuable books of original records thus loaned. Two 
of these books were no less than the Ancient Records of the town of 
Swansea, dating back to 1667, which were found in a box in the attic of a 
meat market on Baker Street, near the Baptist Church, Warren, Rhode 
Island, in 1870. These books had been loaned to Honorable Levi Bosworth, 
a justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, by the town clerk of 
Swansea. After the death of both these gentlemen, no one, not even 
the new town clerk of Swansea, knew where these precious documents 
were. General Fessenden remarked to me that "Judge Bosworth was 
a good bookkeeper," and that if I could find any remnants of his estate, 



.) 



which had been settled several years before, I might come across the 
books. Following this clue, I found the treasure in a box of cast-off 
s " material in the possession of a member of the Bosworth family, and, 

after using, returned them to their shome in the safe of Town Clerk 
Luther, at Swansea. 

The Sowams Record Book was undoubtedly loaned to some 
person in Warren, and, in course of time, came into the hands of Mr. 
Luther. It is to Mr. Luther's credit, as a very honest and honorable 
man, that he never claimed that it belonged to the town of Warren, or 
that its records related especially to Warren. On the other hand, he 
admitted that it was a Barrington book that had come into his possession 
and when the matter of its return to the town of Barrington was dis- 
cussed and acted upon by the town council of Warren, April 2, 1877, Mr. 
Luther was among the first to recognize its proper ownership. 



The following copies of records will set at rest some questions under 
discussion as to the present possession of the book by the town of Bar- 
rington : 

Barrington, R, L, 
"Monday, March 26th, A. D. 1877. 

At a meeting of the Council held this day at two o'clock afternoon, 
members present, Harrison H. Richardson, Benjamin Martin, Nathaniel 
Peck, John C. Burrington, Lewis B. Smith. 

The following resolution was passed by the Council. 

"Whereas it is known that a volume of ancient records entitled A 
Memorial or Records of Lands at Sowams alias Sowamsett belonging to 
this town is now in the possession of the town of Warren where it is 
held awaiting a requisition from the proper authorities of this town ; Now 
therefore be it resolved that the Town Clerk be and he is hereby 
instructed to communicate to the Hon. the Town Council of the Town of 
Warren the request of this Council that said volume of records may be 
delivered to the said Town Clerk who is hereby authorized to receipt for 
the same. 



"Resolved that a duly attested copy of these Resolutions be trans- 
mitted to the Hon. the Town Council of the Town of Warren." 

From Council Records. Attested by Town Clerk, Frederick P. Church. 



Town Council. "Warren, April 2, 1877. 

President C. R. Cutler in the chair. All members present. 

A paper from the Town Council of Barrington asking for the cus- 
tody of a book of ancient proprietors' records was presented. Inasmuch 
as these records related especially to portions of the town of Barrington, 
the request was granted, and it was voted that the book be transferred 
to the Town Council of the Town of Barrington." 

From report of Meeting of Town Council of Warren, R. I., printed 
in Providence Journal, April 4, 1877. 



Barrington, R. I. 
Council Report, presented to the Town Meeting held April 6th, 
1877, and recorded in the printed Report for that year at page 9. 

"We have the gratification to announce that through the courtesy 
of the Town Council of the Town of Warren, we have recovered a vol- 
ume of ancient records of inestimable value to this town, but which has 
been lost to us for many years. The following inscription in bold antique 
dharacters appears upon the title page : 

'A memorial or Booke of Records of ye Severall Divissions & bounds 
of ye Lands at Sowames Als Sowamsett and parts adjacent purchased of 
ye Great Sachems Ossamequin & Wamsetto his eldest sonne by certaine 
Gentlemen of ye Antient Inhabitants of the Colony of New Plymouth N E 
by Order of ye Genl Court as by Deed bearing date Twenty Ninth day 
of March 1653 May Appear.' 

H. H. Richardson. 
Benjamin Martin. 
Nathaniel Peck. 
John C. Burrington. 
Lewis B. Smith. 

Town Council." 
From Town Council Reports Attested by Town Clerk, F. P. Church. 



So far as is known to the author, this is the first complete work on an 
ancient New England Proprietary, the basis of most old New England 
land titles. To the lawyer and conveyancer it will be an authority as to 
early land titles. To the historian it will be a full account of the settle- 
ment of one of the most unique plantations made by the pioneers and 
ancient settlers of Plymouth. To the general reader it will be a clear and 
vivid portrayal of the questions of civil and municipal life, nearly three 
centuries ago. 

This ancient Proprietary, known as Sowams, the Home of Osame- 
quin, better known as Massassoit, will appear under four headings or 
chapters : 

I, History of the Great Sachem, Massassoit, and His Relations with 
the Plymouth Colony and Sowams. 

n. The Sowams Records, Printed Verbatim from the Original, 

from 1653 to 1797. 

HI. The Sowams Proprietary, Its Founders, Location and History; 
Its Merging in Swansea, Mass., and Other Towns. 

IV. Sowams. 

V. Purposes, Organization, and Laws of a New England Proprietary. 
I am indebted to all writers on early New England history as to the 

history of Sowams and Massassoit. The chapter on Purposes, Organi- 
zation, and Laws of a New England Proprietary is a condensation and 
revision of Angell and Ames on Proprietaries, the best, and almost the 
only authority on this important topic. 

The "Sowams Records" are presented in as perfect a form as pos- 
sible, even to the preservation of the spelling and punctuation. The 
excellence of the chirography appears in the photographs of the title page 
and fine paging of the body of the book, closing with the final record 
of General Thomas Allin, the last proprietors' clerk. 

I commit this volume, unique and interesting as it is, to the intelli- 
gence and judgment of all interested people, assured that the truth will 
stand more secure with the lapse of years and that honor will fall where 
It shall be due. 



I DEDICATE 

S O ^W A M S 

TO 

THE MEMORIES OF 

My Father 

ALLIN BICKNELL 

AND 

My Mother 
HARRIET BYRON BICKNELL 

OF 
BARRINGTON, R. L 



CHAPTER I 

CONTAINING A HISTORY 
OP THE GREAT SACHEM 
MASSASSOIT AND HIS 
RELATIONS WITH THE 
PLYMOUTH COLONY AND 
SOWAMS 




CAPTAIN' MYI.ES STAXDISH 
A Sowams Proprietor 



^^HE "Mayflower," the ship which brought the first Pilgrims to 
^7} New England, set sail from Plymouth, Old England, Sep- 
I 1 tember 6, 1620, and, after a stormy and perilous voyage, 

^^ arrived at Cape Cod, November, n. O. S., finding safe 
anchorage in Provincetown Harbor. Governor Bradford, 
the first historian of Plymouth Plantation, writes: "Being thus 
passed ye vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their prepara- 
tion they had now no friends to wellcome them, nor inns to entertam 
or refresh their weather-beaten bodys, no houses or much less townes to 
repaire too, to seeke for succoure. It is recorded in scripture as a mere, 
to ye apostle and his shipwracked company, yt the barbarians shewed 
them no smale kindnes in refreshing them, but these savage barbanans 
when they mette with them (as after will appeare) were readier to fill 
their sids full of arrows then otherwise, . . - Besids, what could they 
see but a hidious and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and w.ld 
n,en' And what multituds ther might be of them they knew not. . . 
For summer being done, all things stand upon them with a wether beaten 
face • and ye whole countrie full of woods and thickets, represented a w.ld 
and 'savage heiw." Surely, this was not a hopeful prospect, as these 
Pilgrims and strangers looked out upon the New World, wh.ch was to 
be their home, and, by the wonderful blessing of the Divine Gu.dance 
the future homes of millions of their descendants. What ™°- natural 
thing could these brave men and women do than to fall upon the.r knees 
and bless the God of Heaven, "who had brought them over ye vast and 
Jurious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles and miser.es thereof, 
againe to set their feete on ye firme and stable earth, the.r proper ele- 
mente." 



On the fifteenth of November, Captain Myles Standish, with sixteen 
well-armed men, went on shore for an examination of the country. 
Marching about a mile by the shore, they saw five or six savages, with a 
dog, coming toward them. Seeing Standish and his men, the Indians 
ran into the woods, and then on the sandy shore, followed by Standish, 
who wished to meet and speak with them. Following the Indian trail 
until night, Standish and his men camped in the woods. The next day 
they found a pond of fresih water, and shortly after cleared ground where 
the Indians had planted corn. Further on, they came to a place where a 
house had been and a great kettle had been left. Digging into heaps of 
sand, Standish found "diverce faire Indian baskets filled with corne, and 
some in eares, faire and good, of diverce collours, which seemed to them 
a very goodly sight." This was the first reconnaissance on Cape Cod. 

A few days later, thirty men went on shore and in their wanderings 
found two deserted Indian houses covered wtih mats and sundry imple- 
ments in them. They also found corn and beans which they took with 
them, and saved as seed for the next year's planting. 

The first interview of the Pilgrims with the Indians was in an attack 
made on a reconnoitering party about Cape Cod Bay in the early part of 
the month of December. The Indians, with their bows and arrows, were 
no match for the muskets and coats-of-mail of the white men. "Ater- 
wards," says Bradford, "they gave God sollamene thanks and praise for 
their deliverance, and gathered up a bundle of their arrows, and sente 
them into England afterwards by ye mr. of ye ship, and called that place 
ye first encounter." 

Bradford tells us that the Indians frequently skulked about their 
settlement at Plymouth, and when any went to meet them would run 
away. Once some Indians stole the tools of the settlers while they were 
at dinner. On March i6, 1621, an Eastern Indian, who could speak 
broken English, came to Plymouth and told them many things concern- 



ing the Indians of his own section, now the Kennebec Country in Maine, 
"as also of ye people hear, of their names, number, and strength ; of their 
situation and distance from this place, and who was cheefe among them." 
He gave his name as Samoset and told them of another Indian, named 
Squanto, who had been in England and could speak English better than 
he. He was dismissed with gifts, but came again with five Indians, 
bringing back the tools that had been stolen. On this visit, Samoset told 
the whites that the great chief of the tribe, Massassoit, would visit Ply- 
mouth in four or five days, with Squanto as an interpreter. 

This interesting and remarkable interview, fraught with such 
momentous results to both parties, is best told by an eye-witness and I 
give entire the story as given in "Alourt's Relations."* 

"Thursday, the 22nd of March, 1621, was a very fayre warme day. 
About noone we met again about our publique businesse, but we 
had scarce beene an houre together but Samoset came again, 
and Squanto, the only native of Patuxat, where we now inhabite, 
who was one of the twentie captives that by Hunt were carried away, and 
had beene in England & dwelt in Cornehill with master Slanie, a Mer- 
chant, and could speake a little English, with three others, and they 
brought with them some few skinnes to trucke, and some red Her-rings 
newly taken and dryed, but not salted, and signified unto us, that their 
great Sagamore, Masasoyt — was hard by, with Quadequina his brother, 
and all their men. They could not well express in English what they 
would, but after an houre the King came to the top of an hill over against 
us, and had in his trayne sixtie men, that wee could well behold them, 
and they us ; we were not willing to send our governour to them, and they 
unwilling to come to us, so Squanto went againe unto him, who brought 
word that wee should send one to parley with him, which we did, which 
was Edward Winsloe, to know his mind, and to signifie the mind and will 



*Ed. 1865. Edited by Henry M. Dexter, p. 90, et seq. 

9 



of our governour, which was to have trading and peace with him. 
We sent to the King a payre of knives and a Copper Chayne with a Jewell 
at it. To Quadequina we sent likewise a Knife and a Jewell to hang in 
his eare, and withall a Pot of strong water, a good quantity of Bisket, 
and some butter, which were all willingly accepted. Our Messenger made 
a speech unto him, that King James saluted him with words of love and 
Peace, and did accept of him as his Friend and Alie, and that our govern- 
our desired to see him and to trucke with him, and to confirm a peace 
with him as his next neighbour; he liked well of the speech and heard 
it attentively, though the interpreters did not well express it ; after he had 
eaten and drunke himself, and given the rest to his company, he looked 
upon our messengers sword and armour which he had on, with intimation 
of his desire to buy it, but on the other side, our messenger showed his 
unwillingness to part with it; In the end he left him in the custodie of 
Quadequina, his brother, and came over the brooke, and some twentie 
men following him, leaving all their Bows and Arrows behind them. We 
kept six or seaven as hostages for our messenger: Captain Standish and 
master Williamson met the King at the brooke, with half a dozen Muske- 
tiers, they saluted him and he them, so one going over, the one on the one 
side, and the other on the other, conducted him to an house then in 
building where we placed a greene Rugge, and three or four cushions, 
then instantly came our Governour with Drumne and Trumpet after him, 
and some few Musketiers. After salutations, our Governour kissing his 
hand, the King kissed him, and so they sat down. The Governour called 
for some strong water, and drunke to him, and he drunke a great draught 
that made him sweate all the while after, he called for a little fresh 
meate, which the King did eate willingly, and did give his followers. 
Then they treated of Peace, which was : 

"i. That neyther he nor any of his should injure or doe hurt to any 
of ours. 



10 



"2. And if any of his did hurt to any of ours, he should send the 
offender, that we might punish him. 

"3. That if any of our Tooles were taken away when our people 
were at worke, he should cause them to be restored, and if ours did any 
harm to any of his, wee would doe the like to them. 

"4. If any did unjustly warre against him, we would ayed him; If 
any did warre against us, he should ayde us. 

"5. He should send to his neighbour Confederates, to certifie them 
of this, that they might not wrong us but might be likewise comprised 
in the conditions of Peace. 

"6. That when their men came to us, they should leave their Bowes 
and Arrowes behind them, as wee should doe our Peeces when we came 
to them. 

"Lastly, that doing thus. King James would esteeme of him as his 
friend and Alie; all which the King seemed to like well, and it was 
applauded of his followers, all the while he sat by the Governour he trem- 
bled for feare ; At the close of the interview he acknowledged himself con- 
tent to become the subject of our Sovereign lord, the King aforesaid and 
his successors ; and gave unto them all the lands adjacent to them and their 
heirs forever. 

"In his person he is a very lustie man, in his best yeares, an able 
body, grave of countenance and spare of speech : In his Attyre little or 
nothing differing from the rest of his followers, only in a great Chaine of 
white bone Beades about his necke, and at it behinde his necke, hangs a 
little bagg of Tobacco, which he dranke and gave us to drinke ; his face 
was paynted with a sad red like murry, and oyled both head and face, 
that hee looked greasily ; All bis followers likewise, were in their faces, in 
part or in whole paynted, some blacke, some red, some yellow, and some 
white, some with crosses, and other Antick workes, some had skins on 
them, and some naked, all strong, tall, all men in appearance; So after 



all was done, the Governour conducted him to the Brooke, and there 
they embraced each other and he departed, we diligently keeping our 
hostages." 

Bradford adds: "After these things he returned to his place called 
SowAMS, some 40 mile from this place, but Squanto continued with them, 
and was their interpreter, and was a spetiall instrument sent of God for 
their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their 
corne, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also 
their pilott to bring them to unknown places for their profitt, and never 
left them till he dyed." 

Miassassoit, or Osamequin, who was thus introduced to Gov. Carver 
and the Pilgrims, was the chief sachem of the Wampanoags, a powerful 
tribe of Indians, occupying the territory of Southeastern Massachusetts, 
south of the country of the Massachusetts tribe, with the Atlantic Ocean 
and Narragansett Bay on their eastern, southern and western bounds. 
He was born about 1580 and died in 1661. The true name of the sachem 
was Osamequin, Ousamequin or Woosamequin, meaning "The yellow 
feather," from ousa, yellow and mequin, a feather. His signature to the 
Sowams' deed is Osamequin and this was his tribal name. The word 
Massassoit, meaning "the great sachem," is from the two Indian words, 
massa great, and assot, king or ruler, the title given him by the Plymouth 
people as a synonym with his real name, Osamequin, by which he was 
later known. 

The names of his ancestors and wife are not known. He had two 
brothers, Akkompoin and Quadequina. Massassoit had three sons, Wam- 
sitta (Alexander), Pometacom (Philip), and Sunconewhew; and one 
daughter, whose English name was Amie. 

His son Alexander, married Namunpum, or Weetamo, Queen of 
Pocassett. 



12 



Hi. *oo. PhiHp, mamc<l \N Vxvionekinuske, %it^ of \V«amo. 

Philip Had one ton- 

Quadcquma, brother of M*^^^*oit, is said to have been "a v«7 
proper, Ull young man. of a very modest and ««nly c<«iit«»a«c*r »«<J 
held a high place in the gwemment of the tribe 

Akkompojn i»a* one of l>hilip'» oountellors, sr^r.ei ccc.v an- r^Ic 

treatief. ^ , 

\Vam>-itU ai.M^ted hiv lau-icr. M- 
tribe, and, at hu fathers death in lO w ....^ - 
ship. In 1662, WamsitU and his brother, Pometaoom, r«q c 

whites to give them English aames, and the Plymouth Court gave to 
Wamsitta the name of Alexander and to Pometaoom the name of Phihp, 
in honor of the Macedonian Cooquerort. 

The introduction between the Pilgrinu and Massassoit, in March 
,621. as already described, «as the firK contact and bond of umon between 
the whites and the natives. The visit of the Indian, was kindly recipro- 
cated in July of the lame year, when - ' WinsJow and Stephen Hop- 

kins were despatched on a vi.it to S ... This was the fir.t attempt 

of the English to explore the interior, their object being to gain a know!- 
edge of the Pokanoket country, the land of the Wampanoags, "to apo^o- 
gi« for some misbehavior, to establish and to regulate an intercourse, to 
procure com, and to strengthen their mutual good understandmg." Up 
to this time the Blgrims had not set foot outside their little Kttkmcat, 
but now with Squanto as guide, they proc«««kd on their western explora- 
tion, with an intrepidity akin to that of thote ••bo now attempt the like 
service on the frontiers of the far Wert. They bore as gift* to the Indian 
chief a borjemans laced coat of red ootlon and a chain. The party »et 
out on foot on the morning of the 3d of July, 1621, and at three P. M. of 
the same day were received with joy at the Indian village of Namasket, 
;- \'riddkboro', and were refr^bed by an Indian repast of bread calkd 

13 



mozium, made of Indian corn, and also with the roes of shad, which were 
boiled with acorns. Eight miles further on, they reached the Titicut 
River, where they found the Namasket Indians fishing at a weir, where 
they caught plenty of bass. The natives exchanged provisions and shared 
their lodgings with them in the open fields at night. The land was well 
cleared and productive, and the evidences were manifest of many settle- 
ments along the banks of the stream, but the pestilence of the previous 
years had been so fatal that the living were unable to bury the dead, and 
many Indian skeletons lay bleaching on the ground. Six of the natives 
joined them in the morning on their journey, and about three miles below 
the Taunton Green they reached a fording place where two old Indians 
on the west bank of the stream prepared to resist their passage. A show 
of friendship and a bracelet of beads conquered their hostile spirit, and 
the emigrants or ambassadors were received with the kindest welcome, 
the natives vying with each other in acts of hospitality, by giving them 
food, and by kindred acts of civility. In passing down the Taunton River 
they found evidences that the country had been recently thickly settled, 
but rank weeds spread over the fertile soil, and desolation now reigned 
throughout the country. 

Traveling on through the Indian country, known as Alattapoiset, in 
the eastern part of Swansea, they came to an Indian village, where they 
were fed with fish and oysters and in the afternoon arrived at Sowams, 
the residence of Massassoit. They discharged their muskets as a salute 
to the grand sachem, and received from him a hearty welcome. The coat 
and chain pleased the chief and his people highly, and Massassoit pledged 
them his constant friendship, promised to prevent any further molestation 
by his people and to send corn to Patuxet or Plymouth as they requested. 
He then addressed his own people, spoke of his extensive dominions, and 
encouraged trade with the English. With all his greatness, however, the 
royal commissariat was limited to two fishes to be distributed between 

14 



forty guests ; and between scanty food, filthy cabins and sleepless nights, 
they were compelled to frame excuses for a hasty departure, and on 
Friday morning before sunrise they turned their faces towards Plymouth 
with Tokamahamon as guide. A two days' trip, by the same route as 
they came, brought the embassy home again, to relate to their friends the 
wonders of the new country and to receive their congratulations over their 
successful mission. Winslow and Hopkins were the first white men who 
ever trod this soil of whom we have any reliable record. Their mission 
was a peaceful one ; they little dreamed, perhaps, that night as they slept 
by the side of the powerful sachem, that in fifty years or a little more, 
the little settlement at Plymouth would have extended its plantations and 
its government over the whole forty miles which they had traversed. 
And the kind-hearted Indian king had no conception of the fact that half 
a century would witness the white man's cabin, where then the smoke 
of his wigwam ascended, or that a new civilization would so soon 
plant its foundations upon the ruins of this early barbarism. 

In March, 1623, tidings came to Plymouth that Massassoit was sick 
and likely to die, and also that a Dutch vessel had been stranded near 
his residence. The Indians, \Vhen sick, always expected aid from their 
friends. It therefore, seemed best to Governor Bradford to send another 
party to visit the chief and to have a conference with the Dutch. The 
talents of Edward Winslow, his former visit, his friendship to Massassoit, 
and his knowledge of the Dutch language marked him as the most fit man 
for the expedition. With him went as a companion, an English gentle- 
man, whose home was in London, but who was sojourning at Plymouth, 
and who greatly desired to see the Indian country. His name was John 
Hampden, and it is fitting that his name should be perpetuated in Bar- 
rington history, in memory of the visit made to Massassoit in 1623. 
An Indian, Hobbamock, went as a guide, for Squanto, Winslow's guide 

15 



in liis first visit, had died some time before. The story is given in Win- 
slow's own graphic words: "We set forward and lodged the first night 
at Namasket. The next day, about one o'clock, we came to a ferry in 
Conbitants country. Upon my discharging my piece, divers Indians 
. came to us from a house not far off. They told us that Massassoit was 
dead and that day buried. This news struck us blank, but especially Hob- 
bamock, who desired that we might return with all speed. I told him I 
would first think of it, considering now that ho being dead, Conbitant was 
most likely to succeed him, and that we were not above three miles from 
Mattapuyst, his dwelling-place. 

"Although he were but a hollow-hearted friend to us, I thought no 
tinu' so lit as this to enter more friendly terms with him and the rest of 
the sachems thereabout ; and though it was somewhat dangerous in 
respect of our personal safety, because myself and llobl)aniock had been 
employed upon a service against him which he might fitly revenge, yet 
esteeming it the best means, leaving the event to God in His Mercy, I 
resolved to put in practice if Master Hampden and llobbaniock durst 
attempt it with me; whom I found willing so that or any other course 
might tend to the general good. So we went toward Mattapuyst. In 
the way, Hobbamock brake forth in these speeches : 'My loving sachem, O 
my loving sachem ! Man have I known, but never any like thee.' And 
turning him to me said, whilst I lived, I should never see his like amongst 
the Indians; saying also he was no liar, he was not bloody and cruel like 
other Indians, from anger ami passion he was soon reclaimed, easy to be 
reconcileil toward such as ofFendeil him ; and that he governeil his men 
better with few strokes than others with many; truly loving where he 
loved ; yea he feared we had not a faithful friend left among the Indians ; 
showing how he oftimes restrained their malice, etc., — continuing a long 
speech with signs of unfeigned sorrow. 

i6 



"At length we came to Mattapuyst and went to the sachem's place, 
but Conbitant was not there but at Puckanokick, which was five or six 
miles off. The sachem's wife gave us friendly entertainment. Here 
we inquired again concerning Massassoit; that they thought him dead 
but knew no certainty. Whereupon I hired one to go with all expedition 
to Puckanokick that we might know the certainty thereof, and withal to 
acquaint Conbitant with our there being. About half an hour before the 
sun setting the messenger returned and told he was not dead, although 
there was no hope we should find him living. Upon this we were much 
revived, and set forward with all speed, though it was late within night 
ere we got thither. When we came thither we found the house so full 
of men as we could scarce get in, though they used the best diligence to 
make way for us. They were in the midst of their charms for him, mak- 
ing such a hellish noise as it distempered us who were well, and therefore 
unlike to ease him that was sick. About him were six or eight women 
who chafed his arms, legs, and thighs to keep heat in him. Having- 
understanding left, but his sight wholly gone, he asked who was come. 
They told him "Winsnow," for they cannot pronounce the letter 1, but 
ordinarily use n in place thereof. He desired to speak with me. When 
I came to him, and they told him of it, he put forth his hand, which I 
took. Then he said twice, though very inwardly, 'Keen Winsnow ?' which 
is to say, 'Art thou Winslow?' I answered, 'Ahhe,' that is yes. Then 
he doubled these words : "Matta neen wonchanet nanem, Winslow !' that 
is to say, 'O Winslow, I shall never see thee again.' Then I called Hob- 
bamock and desired him to tell Massassowat that the Governor, hearing 
of his sickness, was sorry for the same, and though by many businesses 
he could not come himself, yet he sent me with such things for him as 
he thought most likely to do good in this extremity, and whereof if he 
pleased to take I would presently give him ; which he desired, and having 
a confection of many comfortable conserves on the point of my knife, I 

17 



gave him some, which I could scarce get through his teeth. When it was 
dissolved in his mouth he swallowed the juice of it, whereat those about 
him rejoiced, saying that he had not swallowed anything in two days 
before. Then I desired to see his mouth which was exceedingly furred 
and his tongue swelled in such a manner as it was not possible for him to 
eat such meat as they had. Then I washed his mouth and scraped his 
tongue. After which I gave him more of the confection, which he swal- 
lowed with more readiness. Then he desired to drink ; I dissolved some 
of it in water and gave him thereof. Within half an hour this wrought 
a great alteration in him in the eyes of all that beheld him. Presently 
after, his sight began to come to him, which gave him and us good 
encouragement. I inquired how he slept, and they said he slept not in 
two days before. Then I gave him more and told him of a mishap we 
had by the way, in breaking a bottle of drink, saying if he would send 
one of his men to Patuxet, I would send for more of the same ; also for 
chickens to make him broth, and for other things which I knew were 
good for him ; and would stay the return of his messenger if he desired. 
This he took marvelous kindly, and appointed some, who were ready to 
go by two or three o'clock in the morning; against which time I made 
ready a letter. 

"He requested me the day following I would take my piece and kill 
him some fowl, and make him some English pottage, such as he had eaten 
at Plymouth, which I promised. After, his stomach coming to him, I 
must needs make him some without fowl, before I went abroad. I caused 
a woman to bruise some corn and take the flour from it, and set over 
the broken corn, in a pipkin, for they have earthen pots of all sizes. When 
the day broke we went out, it being now March, to seek herbs, but could 
not find any but strawberry leaves, of which I gathered a handful and put 
into the same ; and because I had nothing to relish it, I went forth again 
and pulled up a sassafras root and sliced a piece thereof and boiled it 

i8 



till it had a good relish, and then took it out again. The broth being 
boiled I strained it through my handkerchief, and gave him at least a 
pint, Which he drank and liked it very well. After this his sight mended 
more and more ; also he took some rest ; insomuch as we with the admira- 
tion blessed God for giving his blessing to such raw and ignorant means, 
himself and all of them acknowledging us the instruments of his preser- 
vation. 

"That morning he caused me to spend in going from one to another 
amongst those who were sick in the town, requesting me to wash their 
mouths also, and give to each of them some of the same I gave him, say- 
ing they were good folk. This pains I took with willingness, though it 
were much offensive to me. 

"After dinner he desired me to get him a goose or a duck, and make 
him some pottage therewith with as much speed as I could. So I took 
a man with me, and made a shot at a couple of ducks, some six score 
paces off, and killed one, at which he wondered. So we returned forth- 
with and dressed it, making more broth therewith, which he much desired. 
Never did I see a man so low brought, recover in that measure in so short 
a time. 

"About an hour after he began to be very sick, and cast up the broth, 
and began to bleed at the nose, and so continued the space of four hours. 
Concluding now that he must die, they asked me what I thought of him. 
I answered, his case is desperate, yet it might be would save his life ; for 
if it ceased in time, he could forthwith sleep and take rest, which was 
the principal thing he wanted. Not long after his blood stayed and he 
slept at least six or eight hours. When he waked I washed his face, and 
bathed and supplied his beard and nose with a linen cloth. But on a 
sudden he chopped his nose in the water and drew up some therein, and 
sent it forth with such violence as he began to bleed afresh. Then they 

19 



thought there was no hope, but we perceived it was but the tenderness 
of the nostril, and therefore told them I thought it would stay presently,, 
as indeed it did. 

"The messengers were returned; but finding his stomach come to 
him he would not have the chickens killed, but kept them for breed. 
Many whilst we were there came to see him ; some by their report, from 
a place not less than a hundred miles. To all that came, one of his chief 
men related the manner of his sickness, how near he was spent, how his 
friends, the English, came to see him, and how suddenly he recovered to 
him this strength they saw. Upon this recovery, he brake forth into 
these speeches; 'Now I see the English are my friends, and love me, and 
whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have showed me.' 
Being fitted out for our return, we took leave of him ; who returned many 
thanks to our Governor, and also to ourselves for our labor and love ; the 
like did all that were about him. So we departed." 

Says Cotton Mather: "The fees he (Massassoit) paid his English 
doctor, were a confession of the plot among several nations of the Indians 
to destroy the English." This information was most timely to the Eng- 
lish, and enabled them to ward off the threatened conspiracy which had 
been formed between the Massachusetts tribe and the people to the south 
and west of Plymouth, which Massassoit had been often and urgently 
solicited to aid in carrying out. The cause of the jealousies and combina- 
tions against the whites at this time was owing to the unkind treatment 
of the natives by a company of men, called "Weston's Plantation of Set- 
tlers," from the name of their leader. The character of these settlers 
was profligate and unprincipled, and after they had become reduced to 
extreme penury by their idleness and dissolute habits, excited the ill-will 
of the Indians by fraudulent dealings and by theft. Massassoit advised 
Winslow, that the English should make an immediate attack upon the 
Massachusetts, lest after the tribes had destroyed the Weymouth settle- 



ment, they should fall upon the people of Plymouth, and easily destroy 
them. 

The prompt and brave action of Myles Standish, with his "little army 
of eight men," soon put an end to this destructive plot, by the slaughter 
of a few of the leaders among the Massachusetts and the dispersion of 
the rest into the unhealthy swamps where disease and death made con- 
quest of many of them. When the pious Robinson heard of these deeds, 
he was much grieved and said : "Oh that you had converted some, before 
you had killed any." Thus the humane acts of Winslow and Hampden, 
in saving, by providential aid, the life of Massassoit, were repaid by 
friendly counsels, which preserved the infant colony from complete exter- 
mination. While an Indian's revenge is proverbial, his gratitude should 
also be kindly remembered, and the dwellers in Plymouth and Bristol 
counties ought ever to cherish in grateful memories the name of Massas- 
soit of Sowams, who saved their ancestors and their colony from a pre- 
mature and an inevitable destruction. 

The path broken and trodden between Sowams and Plymouth by the 
pioneers, Winslow, Hopkins, and Hampden, became in process of time a 
well-beaten highway for the interchange of the products of the chase for 
the implements of civilization used in husbandry and hunting. Although, 
as the elder Cushman justly said : "the first care of the Plymouth adven- 
turers was to settle religion before either profit or advantage," yet the 
circumstances of their colonization demanded the utmost use of every 
opportunity offered to secure money, to repay their outfit and the traders 
who had aided their new establishment in the new world. They were 
not greedy of amassing money or lands for their own sake, so much as to 
meet the large demands made upon them in the first years of their settle- 
ment by the London and Plymouth merchants. From England they 
received cloth, coats, hatchets, hoes, knives, kettles, plates, shoes, 
powder, shot and guns. These they exchanged with the Indians for the 



furs of beaver, mink and otter, and the skins of deer and foxes, which 
they shipped to England ; and their tours of inspection among the Massa- 
chusetts, the Kennebecks, the Wampanoags and the Manhattoes, were 
mainly to establish friendly commercial relations. 

It is said that Governor Winslow, on his return from a western tour, 
visited again his friend Massassoit, whom he solicited to accompany him 
to Plymouth, When they approached the settlement, the chief sent an 
Indian messenger privately to inform the whites that Winslow was dead. 
Great grief came over them at such tidings, until the arrival of the party, 
when to their happy surprise, Winslow made his appearance with the rest. 
When asked why he sent such word, Massassoit replied: "That they 
might be more glad to see him when they came." While Squanto and 
Hobbamock acted as agents for the colonists in their traffic, frequent 
visits were undoubtedly made by the leading men of Plymouth. Among 
these we may mention the names of Myles Standish, Thomas Willett, and 
John Brown, and we do not wonder that as they looked out upon the 
charming landscape and waterscape at Sowams and Popanomscutt, that 
they should have selected these lands for occupation, in preference to the 
bleak shores of old Plymouth. 

"As early as 1632, the Plymouth settlers had established a trading 
post at Sowams," says Mr. Miller in his story of the Wampanoags, "which 
was supposed to have been located on the Barrington side of the river, 
on the land known as Phebe's Neck." Hither the Dutch ships came to 
trade with the Indians and white settlers, bringing European wares to 
exchange for furs. So attractive was the natural scenery of this section, 
the soil was so rich, and the positions of the lands as related to the Bay 
and its harbors so well adapted for commerce, that the business men of 
the Colony saw at Sowams their great opportunity, telling Mr. Williams 
and John Clarke that "this was the garden of their patent," and refusing 



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to allow Mr. Clarke to settle his colony thereon. Had they done so, the 
first planting of Newport would have been on Barrington soil, and the 
city by the sea might not have been, in that century at least. 

The Rhode Island Historical Society has made special note of this 
important visit of Winslow and Hampden to Massassoit at Sowams, by 
asking the Providence, Warren & Bristol Railroad directors to change 
the name of their station at Chachacust, or New Meadow Neck, from 
New Meadow Neck to Hampden Meadows, and the erection, in 1890, 
of a tablet on the depot, with the following inscription : 

"This Station is Called 
HAMPDEN MEADOWS 

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUEST OF THE RhODE IsLAND HISTORICAL 

Society. In the early colonial days the name 'Meadows' was 

GIVEN to the tracts OF LAND 'RUNNING AS FAR BACK FROM THE RIVER 

as the salt grass could grow.' 

"The name 'Hampden' commemorates the visit of Edward Win- 
slow AND John Hampden to this region in 1623. In March of that 
year, news reached Plymouth that Massassoit was sick and likely 
TO die. Accordingly Edward Winslow (afterwards governor of 
Plymouth Colony) was sent to visit the Indian sachem at his 
village of Sowams, and to care for him in his sickness. With 
him went 'one Master John Hampden, a gentleman of London, 
who then wintered with us and desired much to see the country.' 
It is confidently believed that future historical research will 
prove unquestionably that this young man afterwards became the 
GREAT Parliamentary leader and statesman whose glory is the 
common heritage of the English race." 

Concerning the first visit to Massassoit, Governor Bradford writes 
as follows : "Having in some sorte ordered their bussines at horn, it was 



thought meet to send some abroad to see their new friend Massasoyet, 
and to bestow upon 'him some gratuitie to bind him ye faster unto them ; 
as also that hearby they might view ye countrie, and see in what manner 
he Hved, what strength he had aboute him, and how ye ways were to 
his place, if at any time they should have occasion. So ye 2. of July they 
sente Mr. Edward Winslow & Mr. Hopkins, with ye aforesaid Squanto 
for ther guid, who gave him a suite of cloaths, and a horsemans coate, 
with some other small things, which were kindly accepted ; but they found 
but short commons, and came both wearie and hungrie home. For ye 
Indians used then to have nothing so much corne as they have since ye 
English have stored them with their hows, and seene their Industrie in 
breaking up new grounds therewith. They found his place to be 40 
miles from hence, ye soyle good, & ye people not many, being dead & 
abundantly wasted in ye late great mortalitie which fell in all these parts 
aboute three years before the coming of the English, wherein thousands 
of them dyed, they not being able to burie one another; ther sculs and 
bones were found in many places lying still above ground, where their 
houses and dwellings had been ; a very sad spectachle to behold. But they 
brought word that ye Narighansets lived but on ye other side of that great 
bay, and were a strong people and many in number, living compact 
togeather, and had not been touched at all with this wasting plague." 
That Massassoit was a man of very benevolent spirit is seen in his 
generosity to the Pilgrims as the result of his first visit to Plymouth in 
1621. He not only entered into a treaty of friendship with the whites, 
which he observed religiously during his life, but he acknowledged the 
king of Great Britain as the supreme owner and ruler of his territory. 
His first royal gift — not sale, for the consideration was in the main pro- 
tection — was the territory included in what are now the townships of 
Ph-mouth, Duxbury, Carver, Kingston, Plympton, Marshfield, Wareham 
and a part of Halifax. The first land title held by Plymouth Colony was 

24 



from Massassoit. and was not obtained by conquest or invasion, but was 
the result of the generosity of the Savage in answer to the Christian 
spirit of the Pilgrims. 

In view of this and other transfers of large sections of tribal lands, 
the question may be raised, why was Massassoit so ready to dispose of 
large portions of his territory to the whites when each sale circumscribed 
the ownership and free movements of the tribe? The answer to this 
question helps to solve the Sowams problem. One strong reason, 
probably the chief motive, appears in the fact that Massassoit was not 
living in friendly relations with the strong tribe of Massachusetts Indians 
on the north, and the much stronger Narragansetts on the south and west. 

The occupation of the Cape towns, Bridgwater, Taunton and Reho- 
both on the north, and of Sowams and Swansea on the Bay by the whites 
was a much needed protectorate to Massasssoit and his tribe. A terrible 
scourge had reduced the Wampanoags from several thousands to a mere 
handful of fighting men, and the sagacious sachem saw salvation for the 
remnant of his tribe in alliance with the strong white man to whom he 
had sent the greeting by Samoset, "Welcome, Englishman." And this 
suggests a reason why Massassoit did not occupy Mount Hope as his 
principal residence. There he was exposed to hostile attacks from the 
Narragansetts, who occupied Aquidneck, the other islands of the bay, 
and the main land on the west shore. Sowams, now Barrington and 
Swansea, was the strategic position which he could defend or retreat 
from, while Mount Hope offered no protection nor opportunity of escape 
when the enemy had possessed himself of the north end of Mt. Hope 
Neck, a space of less than a mile in breadth. 

One of the most important acts of the four New England 
Colonies was the adoption of Articles of Confederation in 1643, 
by which they were called the United Colonies for the purpose 
of mutual protection, especially from the incursions of hostile Indians. 

25 



"This Confederacy," said John Quincy Adams, "was the model and 
prototype of the North American Confederacy of 1774. . . . 
In both cases it was the great law of nature and of nature's God, — the 
law of self-preservation and self-defence." Commissioners were chosen 
to act for those colonies. One of the first acts of the commissioners was 
to adjust the difficulties and hostilities then existing between the ISTarra- 
gansetts under Miantonomo, on the one hand, and the Pequots under 
Uncas, and the Wampanoags under Massassoit on the other. 

At a meeting of the commissioners held at Boston, September 7, 
1643, it was agreed that Miantonomo be put to death for "malitious 
plots" and "tumults" and "outbreakings" against Uncas, sagamore of 
the Mohegans, and his people, and Woosamequin (Massassoit) and his 
people, "whose peace and lawful liberties we may not suffer to be vio- 
lated." It was also agreed that "Plymouth labor, by all due means, to 
restore Woosamequin to his full liberties in respect to any encroach- 
ments by the Nanohiggansetts or any other natives." 

In 1645, the commissioners refer again to the importance of protect- 
ing their friendly Indian allies, naming IMassassoit first in the list, and 
adding: "But a peace well framed will hardly be secured unlesse either 
some of ye chiefe sachims deliver their Sonnes as Hostages or that some 
considerable part of the Countrey be yeilded to the English for planta- 
cions wherein there may be forts built by the English and mayntayned 
(at least in pt) by a tribute from the Nanohiggansetts to secure the 
agreement." 

In the sale of Sowams and its settlement by the Plymouth founders, 
Massassoit sought and found the best protection which his tribe so evi- 
dently demanded. Surrounded by the cordon of whites, they enjoyed 
peace and quiet within their narrow tribal area. 

Another motive for granting concessions of land was the friendly 



spirit of the Plymouth Colony leaders and their recognition of the rights 
of the Indians. The Plymouth and Sowams' trail became a great high- 
way of travel, of barter, and the route of interchange of friendly offices. 
The coming of Roger Williams in 1636 to form intimate relations of 
friendship with Massassoit, probably spending a part of the winter of 
1636, at Sowams, with the sachem, was another tie that bound the white 
and red man together and secured for the white settlers lands and neigh- 
borly protection from the Indians. A good knowledge of the Indian 
language gave Mr. Williams a great advantage and a great opportunity 
in cultivating the arts of peace and of cooperation with the natives. 

It is quite possible, too, that Massassoit and his counselors came to 
regard blankets, coats, firearms and English money as more useful than 
lands, which seemed more than they needed in the reduced condition of 
the tribe. Whatever the motives, Massassoit disposed of large portions 
of his possessions between 1620 and his death in 1661, the deeds being 
signed by one of his sons or counselors, besides his own signature. 

Taunton was bought by John Brown and others in 1640 for a small 
consideration. Rehoboth, a tract eight miles square, really ten, was 
bought in 1641. Wannamoisett was bought in 1645, by John Brown, 
for £15. Sowams was purchased in 1653 for £35. 

In 1661, Thomas Willett and others bought Rehoboth North Pur- 
chases "For divers good causes and other valuable considerations." These 
several tracts now constitute thirteen towns, which, added to the Cape 
towns constitute twenty municipalities for which Massassoit received 
so far as is known not exceeding £200 in money. After the death of 
Massassoit, Alexander, Philip, and others of the tribe sold considerable 
sections for new townships. 

In 1673, Totomommuck sold the territory, now known as Warren, to 
the town of Swansea. This tract was bounded on the south by the body 



27 



of Consumpsit, or Mount Hope Neck ; on the west by the Sowams River 
and its east branch, now known as Palmers River, and on the north by 
the Old Swansea bounds. The eastern boundary of this purchase is not 
clearly defined, but may have been the Kickemuit River. Further refer- 
ence will be made to this deed in the chapter on Sowams. 

In 1668, Philip and Unkompoin made a quit-claim deed of lands on 
New Meadow Neck to Thomas Willett, James Brown and John Allen in 
behalf of themselves and the rest for £11. This deed completes the trans- 
fer of the reservation made by Massassoit in the Sowams deed, to which 
reference is made, and fixes the date when the Indians removed from 
New Meadow Neck. 

In 1669, Philip sold to Hugh Cole and others five hundred acres 
of land in Swansea, on the west side of Cole's River, a part of Touissett. 

Governor Winslow, writing in 1676, said : 'T think I can clearly say 
that before these present troubles (Philip's War) broke out, the English 
did not possess one foot of land in this colony, but what was fairly 
obtained by honest purchase of the Indian proprietors. We first made a 
law that none should purchase or receive of gift, any land from the 
Indians, without the knowledge or allowance of our court, at a penalty 
of five pounds per acre. It was also provided that Mt. Hope, Pocassett 
and several other necks of the best lands in the colony should never 
be bought out of their hands." 

He writes still further: "Our neighbors at Rehoboth and Swansea, 
although they bought their lands fairly of this Philip and his father and 
brother, yet because of their vicinity, that they might not trespass upon 
the Indians, did, at their own cost, set up a very substantial fence quite 
across that great neck (Popanomscutt) between the English and the 
Indians ; and paid due damage if at any time any unruly horse or other 
beasts broke in and trespassed. The English agreed with Philip and 
his for a certain sum, yearly, to maintain the said fence and secure 

2S 



themselves. And if at any time they have brought complaint before us 
they have had Justice impartial and speedily, so that our own people 
have frequently complained that we erred on the other hand in showing 
them over much favor." 

It is a remarkable fact, that, during the forty years of business rela- 
tionship between the Pilgrims and Massassoit, there is no recorded 
instance of serious differences between them. A deep and abiding con- 
fidence was early established, w'hich, in the midst of tumults and hostili- 
ties without, was never disturbed. In 1621, the Narragansetts attacked 
Massassoit and killed one of his tribe, on hearing which, Myles Standish, 
at the head of ten armed men, marched to Namasket (Middleboro) to 
rescue or revenge their friend, succeeding in their enterprise by two dis- 
charges of their muskets. 

In 1639, Massassoit renewed the treaty with the whites, reaffirming 
his allegiance, and pledging his aid to the settlers at Plymouth, on all 
occasions of need. 

The only assault ever made upon Massassoit by white men occurred 
in 1646, when Thomas Hitt and William Cheeseboro, a blacksmith, both 
of Rehoboth, maliciously attacked him and others of his tribe. Cheese- 
boro fled to a neighboring colony, but was sentenced on his return to 
fourteen days' imprisonment and £6 fine for his offence, and Thomas Hitt 
was sentenced to pay a fine of 20 shillings. 

Massassoit died in the year 1661, aged about eighty-one years. His 
burial-place is unknown, but was most likely in the Indian burial-place 
in Sowams or at Kickemuit. Trumbull, in his "Indian Wars," says of 
Massassoit: "He seems to have been a most estimable man. He was 
just, humane and beneficent, true to his word, and, in every respect, an 
honest man." 

At the first celebration of Forefather's Day, December 22, 1769, 

29 



under the auspices of the "Old Colony Club of Plymouth," the fifth regu- 
lar toast was : 

"To the memory of Massassoit, our first and best friend and ally of 
the natives." 

General Guy M. Fessenden says: "Massassoit, though a heathen, 
proved himself true to the dictates which the light of nature suggested. 
He possessed all the elements of a great mind and a noble heart. With 
the advantages of civilized life and the light which a pure Christianity 
would have supplied, he might have achieved a brilliant destiny and 
occupied a high niche in the temple of Fame. In all the memorials which 
have come down to us, Massassoit's character stands above reproach." 

"We have found the Indians," wrote Governor Winslow, "very faith- 
ful to their covenants of peace with us, very loving and willing to 
pleasure us. We go with them in some cases fifty miles into the country, 
and walk as safely and peaceably in the woods as in the highways of 
England." 

Our own studies of Massassoit's life and character confirm the esti- 
mates of these eminent authorities and justify the belief that at no distant 
day, wftien a clearer vision of the really great men and events of our 
colonial history shall be enjoyed, that Massassoit, an Indian, a savage by 
birth and inheritance though he was, will stand out in colossal propor- 
tions as the greatest of our aboriginal Americans and the Defender and 
Saviour of the Plymouth Colony. Still more it is our ardent hope and 
expectation that on some commanding height in Old Plymouth Colony, 
possibly on the Hill of Treaty at Plymouth, over against Burial Hill, 
made sacred by the ashes of Bradford, the Winslows and other Pilgrim 
Fathers, a shaft shall rise to the perpetual memory of the wise, the just, 
the peace-loving, the true, the trusty, the generous, the faithful, the 
constant, the warm-hearted friend of the Pilgrims, Ousamequin, alias 
Massassoit. 

30 




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TITLE PAGE OF SOWAMS RECORDS 



CHAPTER II 

THE RECORDS OF THE 
SOWAMS PROPRIETARY 



(gpt^ral (Hmtt. Nftu ^Immiutlj. N. E 



JN answer unto the petition of Mr James Brown Mr John 
Allen John Viall and Mr John Saffin and divers others 
Proprietors in Lands in this Collony: viz in the Towns 
as they say of Rehoboth Swansey and New Bristol the 
Right whearof they haveing received from Certaine 
worthy Gentlemen Ancient Inhabitants of some of the first com- 
mers into this Collony whow in Consideration of the Premises had the 
preference first grannt and Choice given them by the Honeord generall 
Court to make purchase of Certain Lands in those parts from the Indians 
and devided it among themselves which accordingly was by them accom- 
plished and by deed of Sale under the hands and seals of Owassimequin 
and Wamsitta his Eldest sone bearing date the 29th of March Anno Dom 
1653 may and doth at large apear; Now may it please the Honored 
Court for the Rig<ht and Legall Settlement of those our Severall Estates 
of Land the proprietors thereof haveing a book of Records and memorialls 
thereof amongst themselves where in the Severall devitions and AUina- 
tions are Recorded and to be recorded To the End that peace and good 
Agreement may be Continued amongst them as they are a Community 
and that every of them may Legally and peaceable injoy his own This 
Court doth grannt unto tbem Liberty from time to time to make Choise 
of some person as a Cleark to Enter and Record the severall devitions 
and Allinations of these their Lands in one Course and form of Law 
which may be transcmitted and Remain to posteritie that this Liberty 
may not Infringe or hinder the bringing or Entring the said Lands to the 
records of the above mentioned Townes as any of them are or may fall 
within them respectively and provided that the said Records shall not 
be any barr to infring the just Rights and Clames of other person or 
persons that can or may Legally make apear such their Rights or titles 
to any parcell or parcells of said Lands which may bee by such Clark 
Recorded as afforesaid By order of the Court for the Jurisdiction of 
New Plymoutli, given by Nathaniell Morton Secretary 
Date, June, 1683 

33 



ellyt 3^tr0t (ingwall AsreeUttttt of the proprietors 
under their hands upon the Grant of the Court concerning 
Each ones part in the lands at Sawomes and Mattapoyset 
Dated ye 7th month 1652 

The names of those whow by order of Court and agreement of pur- 
chasers at Plymouth to make purchase and division of the Lands as are 
at Sawomes and Mattapoysett the seaventh of March 1652 whow are to 
have their severall Pts or moyeties Layed out at the places above 
expressed and are to make and satisfie the purchase and all others charges 
arriseing thereupon according to their several proportions 

Their names are as folloeth 



Mr. William Bradford 

Mr. Thomas Prince 

Mr. Edward Winslow 

Mr. John Adams 

Mr. Cushman 

Mr. John Winslow 

Thomas Clarke 

Experience Mitchell 

Mr. Thomas Willett 

Mr. White 

Mr. Myles Standish's half pte 



one moyety 
one half pt 
all his portion 
his whole portion 
his whole pte 
all his pte 
his half pte 
his half part 
his pte 
his pte 



Wee whose names are above expressed doe here by engage our 
selves to make good whatever charges shall arise in the further prosecu- 
tion of the premises above mentioned it being brought in upon account 
witness our hands ye day & year above writen 

William Bradford John Winslow 

Thomas Prince Experience Mitchell 

Thomas Willett Knelm Winslow 

Edward Winslow Resolved White 

Thomas Cushman Peregrine White 

Thomas Clark Myles Standish, Sen. 



by our father 



34 



^n nS)?^ Uli^' k\Knh upon tHz^fj^raurJ "afj^^'(' 
Cjnrfyiiino ,*Q,///^^ //^? fpixrf in ml rajtias aJ\^n') • 

I 

/C 9/(1 'f//£^ rfj i£af<. 'lo^tfw /f^y orhr' of (3ii^f a..n) >' ' I 

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J , ,1 ■' " . '/ 

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' \ "fan nt 3 ra 'ipru , ^ -{ /"/[.?> , j ^ ';;•' S/f / ( •* 



. iAt 



iii[ tiJ^gJiirfflMrffi 'i iWwr ^- 



FIRST ORIGINAL AGREEMENT IN SOWAMS RECORDS 



QII|p ^erottb AgrrrmPttt of the Proprietors About the 
devition of the lands at Sowomes March ii, 1653 

It is agreed and Concluded by the Company of partners yt are 
interested at Sawomes that there shall be twenty lots of Land layd fourth 
Each lot containing eaighty Acres in as convenient a forme as may be: 
and for the deviding of it we are Agreed yt every half share shall put in 
a lot and the whole shares shall put in two lots and whow ever shall be 
the first drawn shall have the first choice as his lot comes south and so the 
second and third and the rest successively and these lots to be drawn 
soone as may be after it is so devided provided that every whole share 
shall have twenty Acres alowed them either at the heads of their Lotts 
or in such other place as shall be Thought meet And as touching the 
meadowes it is agreed that all our meadowes shall be laid out into ten 
Acres shares as the former having respect to Quantity and Quallity and 
that the whole shares shall chuse thre lots on the New Meadow neck at 
one end and shall have other thre lots apoynted by thre halfe shares on 
the other side of Sowomes River Lying also at one end and togeather 
in lew of that which was formerly allotted equally to halfe shares and 
whole shares And the persons that are made choice of to make these 
devitions above said are Capt Myles Standish Mr Brown Capt Willett 
and Mr. John Winslow and Mr. Thomas Cleark or any three of these. 
And we whose names are under written doe bind our selves to stand to 
what they shall doe in the premises above-said : 

William Bradford Josiah Winslow 

Thomas Prince Resolved White 

John Brown Thomas Clark 

Thomas Willett Myles Standish 

John Winslow 

Knelm Winslow with the consent of John Adams and for his use 



35 



Olijp Oiranh 3nh of #atk of fCmtln^ from O^fiamj- 
quitt m^ Wmnaiita IjtB bo« Jiat^Jj 20: iJlarrly lfi53 

(5o all PfOpliP to whom these presents shall come, 
Osamequin and Wamsetto his eldest sone Sendeth 
greeting 

To all People to whom these presents shall come, Osamequin and 
Wamsetto his eldest sone Sendeth greeting 

Know Yee that we the said Osamequin & Wamsetto for and in con- 
sideration of thirty five pounds Sterling to us the said Osamequin and 
Wamsetto in hand payd by Thomas Prince Gent : Thomas Willett Gent : 
Miles Standish Gent: Josiah Winslow Gent: for and in the behalfe of 
themselves and divers others of the Inhabitants of Plymouth Jurisdiction 
whose names are hereafter specified with which said summe we the said 
Osamequin and Wamsetto doo acknowledge ourselves fully satisfyed con- 
tented and payed Have freely and absolutely bargained and sold enfeoffed 
and confirmed and by thes presents doo Bargaine Sell EnfeofTe and Con- 
firme from us the said Osamequin and Wamsetto, and our and Every 
of our haiers unto Thomas Prince Thomas Willett Miles Standish, Josia 
Winslow Agents for themselves and William Bradford Senr Gent: 
Thomas Clark John Winslow Thomas Cushman, William White John 
Adams and Experience Mitchell to them and every of them, their and 
every of their haiers and asigns forever All those severall parcels and 
necks of upland Swamps and Meadows Eyeing and being on the South 
syde of Sinkhunch Els Rehoboth Bounds and is Bounded from a Little 
Brooke of water called by the Indians Mosskituash Westerly, and so 
ranging by a dead swamp Estward and so by markt trees as Osamequin 
and Wamsetto directed unto the great river with all the meadow in and 
about ye sydes of both the branches of the great river, wth all the Creeks 
and Brookes that are in or upon any of the said meadows as also all the 
marsh meadows Lying and being wth out the Bounds before mentioned 
in or about the neck called by the Indians Chachacust Also all the mead- 
ows of any kind lyeing and being in or about Popasquash neck as also 
all the meadows lyeing from Kickomuet on both sides or any way joyning 

36 



»■- '•»;-•— - 






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PHOTOGRAPH OF GRAND DEED OF SALE FROM OUSAMEQUIN, 1653 
IN SOWAMS RECORDS 



I ^-'Ji iimrcPk 'n^i^k -^r/n-nu ^i:2kr':. :\i fL^ . - / 



PHOTOGRAPH OF GRAND DEED OF SALE FROM OUSAMEQUIN, 1653 
IN SO WaMS RECORDS 



to it on the bay on each side To Have and to Hold all the aforesaid 
uplands swampe marshes, Creeks and Rivers with all their appurtenances 
unto the aforesaid Thomas Prince Thomas Willett Miles Standish Josia 
Winslow and the rest of the Partners aforesaid to them and every of 
them, their and every of their haiers executors and assignes forever And 
the said Osamequin and Wamsetto his sone covenant promise and grant, 
that whensoever the Indians shall remove from the neck that then and 
from thenceforth the aforesaid Thomas Prince Thomas Willett Miles 
Standish Josiah Winslow shall enter upon the same by the same agree- 
ment as their Proper Right And interest to them and their heirs forever 

To and for the true performance of all and every one of the afore- 
said several! Perticulars wee the said Osamequin and Wamsetto Bind us 
and every of us our and every of our heirs. Executors Administrators and 
assignes firmely by these presents 

In Witness whereof wee have hereunto sett our hands and scales 
this twentieth day of March Anno Domini 1653 

Sigfned sealed and 

delivered in ye presence of us The mark 3 of 

Osamequin & a scale 
John Browne 

James Browne Wamsetto M & scale 

Richard Garrett 



Atl AgttPOt^ttt made Betwene the Delegates of Reho- 
both and the Proprietors about ye Meadow and the 
Bounds of the said Lands of Sawoms Dated the 29th June 

Whereas the towne of Rehoboth the 28th June 1653 did depute and 
Authorize Stephen Payne Richard Bowen Thomas Cooper and William 
Sabine as their Deligates to treat and conclude with Capt Miles Standish 
Captain Thomas Willett and Josias Winslow concerning such Lands And 
all other matters as are in Defiference betwixt the Town of Rehoboth and 
the aforesaid Capt Miles Standish and Capt Thomas Willett Josias Win- 

37 



slow and the rest that are Interested in the said Lands it is concluded as 
f oUoweth : 

1 That all such marsh or Meadow Lying on either side of the river 
Running under the Bridge commonly called Bowen's Bridge at the Com- 
mon fence and usually called the Hundred Acres which said meadow 
were allotted in several allotments at the first settling of the Towne All 
those meadows are to remain unto the severall inhabitants of the Towns as 
their true Proprities. 

2 That all such Lands as the towne of Rehoboth formerly passed 
over unto Mr John Browne by an agreement of such articles as now 
stand in the Towne Booke bearing the date of the 29th loth month 
1645 and also recorded in the Court of Plymouth the Summe of the said 
lands so many acres as the said lands shall arise unto when it is measured 
shall be layd forth for the use of the said Capt Myles Standish Capt 
Thomas Willett Josia Winslow and the rest on the North side of the Lyne 
betwixt the Towne and the markt-trees neere to Mr Brownes fence from 
the salt water to the river called Bowens Bridge River 

3 For all such marshes as lye on the west side of the river running 
down toward the Common ffence and Butting on the East End of some 
house Lots now layd forth If ye said Capt. Standish Capt Willett 
Josia Winslow and the rest shall desire the same at any tyme hereafter 
they shall have them allowing the true valuation thereof out of such 
Meadows as lyes upon ye west shoare of Sawams River at the upper 
End of the same as shall be valued by two Indifferent men 

4 That the Towne of Rehoboth at any time within three years after 
the date hereof shall Remove the Common ffence and in the meantime 
Sufficiently repair the Same And when they doe Remove ye same they 
shall Sett it upon their own Land in the Lyne betwixt the Towne and the 
Parties aforsad from the salt water at High water marke of Patuckitt into 
the River Running under Bowens Bridge & uphold itt. 

5 The Town of Rehoboth shall make a sufficient ffence to keepe 
horses and cattle from Rangeing into the neck of land called the new 
Meadow Neck and maintaine the same 

38 



6 That Timber on Ether side shall be LawfuU to be made use of from 
time to time for the Meadows aforesaid for their fencing 

7 That fifor such meadows as Lye to the north Syde of the great 
Plaine it shall be Lawfull for the Towne to make vse of untill ye afore- 
said Persons interested doe see cause to vse ye sd meadows, or if att any 
time they shall sell them, the Towne to have ye first refusall of Buying 

them 

Stephen Payne Thomas Cooper 

Richard Bowen William Sabin 



Amittjpr AgrPf m^ttt Betwene the Proprietors of ye 
Lands at Sawomes aforesaid and the Delligates of the 
Town of Rehoboth Recorded in Court Dated 29th of Jan : 
1662 
Whereas The Town of Rehoboth ye 28 of June 1653 did depute and 
Athorise Stephen Pain Richard Bowen Thomas Cooper and William 
Sabine as there Delligates to treat and conclude with Capt Myles Standish 
Capt Thomas Willett and Josia Winslow concerning such lands and all 
other matters are in difference betwixt the Town of Rehoboth and 
the aforesaid Capt Myles Standish Capt Thomas Willett Josias Winslow 
And the Rest that are interested in the said Lands 

January the 29th, 62 A new Contract or agreement was made 
betwixt Capt. Thomas Willett and the rest of the purchasers and the 
Towne of Rehoboth to prevent both preasant and future Trouble as also 
for the preservation of their mutual peace to them and their successors. 
At a full Towne meeting Lawfully warned it was voted and concluded 
by the Towne that Capt. Thomas Willett and the rest of the purchasers 
their heirs and successors should have seaven score Rod of Land and 
the fence upon the Neck from their Line towards the Towne and soe 
rangeing from the river Commonly Called Patuxet river across the Neck 
to the river by Bowens Bridge and forty rod of Land on the New meadow 
Neck and the fence from there Lyne towards the Towne Cross the neck 
towards broad Cove 



39 



Provided the Towne their heirs and successors should forever be 
freed from all former ingagements or Covenants of either making or 
upholding any fence or fences upon the forementioned Neck or Necks 
To which proposition Capt. Willett and the rest of the purchasers assented 
and Capt. Willett promised to delivr to the Town the wrightings in con- 
venient time 

Ensine Smith and Philip Walker, Joseph Peck and Nicholas Peck 
were chosen by the Town and purchasers to Measure out the lands and 
the charges to be equally Divided. 

This forementioned vote was assented to by the Towne save only 
Gilbert Brooks and John Woodcock who declared their dissent. 



An AgrPFUtPttt under ye hands of ten of the Proprie- 
tors in order to the settlement of the lands aforesaid. 

Dated December 25TH 1660 

Wee whose names are here under written the proprietors of those 
Lands called and named by the name of Sawomes Lands doe unanimously 
and Joyntly binde our selves and covenant to perform these peticulr 

1 That none of us shall at anytime Let or sell any of the said Lands 
to any stranger that is not allready a proprietor with us without the Joynt 
Consent of us all subscribed under our hands vidt, neither upland nor 
meadow 

2 That Henry Smith of Rehoboth be the man to measure all Lands 
yt is to be measured out and Appertaining unto any of us and that some 
two or three of our selves are to be preasant with him to see it done 

3 That Thomas Willett by way of exchange is to have thirty Acres 
of upland measured out adjoyning unto the land of his formerly meas- 
ured out by William Carpenter having the Towne fence on the North side 
and the Land of John Brown on the South Side and Mr. Willett doth 
leave the home lot formerly lay'd out for Elder Cushman in Consideration 

40 



of the same, being of the quantity of thirty acres to lye common 
Amongst us 

John Brown Peter Hunt 

Thomas Willett Henry Smith 

Stephen Pain Phillip Walker 

Joseph Peck Thomas Chafey 

John Allen Samuel Newman 



An AgrPPHt^ttt under ye hands of eaight of the Pro- 
prietors. Dated April 2 : 1655 
Wee whose names are hereunder written being the purchasers of 
some tracts of land bounding upon the bounds of Rehoboth as is now 
devided into some lots and other greater lots according to every mans 
proportions save some part of the said land not being fit to be improved 
for corn is Left as common amongst us part whereof ajoyneth unto ye 
Lands of John Brown whow is one of the proprietors with ourselves and 
upon a motion made by him unto us, viz ; That he would let his home lot 
which he bought of Thomas Willett Lye as Common Amoungst us in 
case we would consent that he should have ye same quantity in consider- 
ation thereof out of that common Land that bordereth upon his Land 
and we doe hereby declare our consent provided the said land be equally 
measured by William Carpenter and Robert Marten at the charge of John 
Brown and that they Lay it out all Ajoyning unto his rangeing East and 
west throug^hout alltogeather as it falls and not in Persells 

Thomas Prince Josias Winslow 

Thomas Willett Resolved White 

Step^hen Pain Samuell Newman 

John Allen Joseph Peck 



An Agr^f m^ttt under ten of the Proprietors Hands 
Jan. 22; 1673 
Wee whose names are here under written doe Agree and conclude 
that all Moable grase ajoyning to any of our Medows Belongs to the said 



41 



Meadow and onely for the use of ye proprietors of the said Meadows and 
that noe other person shall intrench upon the said previledge witness our 
hands this twenty second day of January one thousand six hundred seav- 
enty three 

Thomas Willett James Brown 

Stephen Pain John Allen 

Peter Hunt John Brown 

Nathaniel Peck Israel Peck 

Nathaniel Chafey Joseph Chafey 



SWANSEY DeSEMBER 28: 1 676 

Wet llje (§mmxa anJ! l^rapmtatBof the Lands 

Purchased of Osamequin and Wamsitto his sonne, Com- 
monly called and Known by the name of Sowomes whoes 
names are here inserted Either in behalfe of ourselves or 
for them Concerned doe for the better settlement of the 
lands at Popanomscut and places adjacent agree and con- 
clude as foUoweth 

Emprimis That a Record shall be kept by the proprietors wherein 
all the names of the first purchasers shall be entred and what part and 
proportions of the said Lands they had and did in joy And to whom it 
was Alianated divested or devised to the end every one may Enjoy his 
owne 

2 That for the Lands at Popanomscut and parts adjacent left & de- 
serted by the Indians now in disspute between the proprietors and the pub- 
liqe wheather ouers or conquered Lands the proprietors doe (forthwith all 
as one man) take Effectual Course for the defence and clearing our Inter- 
est in the Lands aforesaid in order where unto it is mutually Agreed and 
fully concluded by us the proprietors in manner following vizt ; 

3 That some meet person or persons be forthwith Chosen to prose- 
cute the busnes for the defence of our Interest as Afforesaid 

42 



4 That Posestion of the rest of the lands be with all convenient 
speed more perticularly by a devition by the best way and meanes as the 
Major part of we the proprietors according to our proportions shall 
think most Convenient in Case we should not Every perticular person 
assent thereunto so that the Major vote shall carry it in all things Except 
the graunt or giveing away of any the said Lands unles it be for defra- 
ing the chargeges thereof and Clearing the title &c 

5 That in layeing out of the said Lands according as we shall con- 
clude for more or less Devitions Each person shall draw lots for his share 
or part where he or they shall lye or In joy it and in Case any one shall 
have his lot fall upon the Medow Land of any person that is allready layd 
out which may by the major part of the Proprietors be Judged prejuditiall 
unto the owner of the said meadow so as it is needfull to be Exchanged 
then it is mutually agreed and Concluded that that person or persons 
whose lot or lots falls to be by or upon the said meadow belonging to 
another person or persons as aforesaid shall exchange with the owner 
or proprietors of the said meadow and in Case the said Lot bordering 
upon the said Meadows be better than the owner of the medows lot then 
such person or owner shall give unto him or them that doth soe Exchange 
lote for Conveniency Reasanable satisfaction for the difference in value 
according as the Major part of the proprietors shall Judge in case the 
partys cannot agree 

6 That in the distinguishing between Meadow and what shall be 
accounted upland one Rule shall be observed amoungst all the Proprietors 
according as the Major part shall agree and determine for the avoyding 
Controversy as afforesaid 

7 That higfhways be layd Convenient in such places as the Major 
part shall agree and determine for best Convenience both for the general 
and peticular 

8 That all the Land be devided with all Convenient speed according 
to the best way as shall be by the proprietors thought most meet and that 
the Charges thereof be paid out of the land as they deem Convenient 

These several Articles and Concession were Concluded written on 

43 



both sides concerning the Lands therein specified to which they have sub- 
scribed this 28 of Desember 1676 At a full and Lawful meeting 

Jam^es Brown Stephen Pain 

John Saffin John Allen 

John Brown Peter Hunt 

Nath : Pain Stephen Pain Jur 

Thomas Chafey Israeli Peck 



December 30, 1676 

At a Harttpli Mttxti^ of the proprietors of the Lands above said 
it is by us this day mutually agreed and Concluded on that Mr Stephen 
Pain Senior or his sonn Nathaniel Pain be one of them that can best attend 
the buisnes of the proprietors about the said Land according to Agree- 
ment and that Mr John Allen and Capt John Brown and John Saffin be 
chosen and hereby are chosen togeather with one of the first nominated 
as a Committe for the laying out of the sd Lands with all convenient speed 
and to efifect what is needfull to be done for the settlement of said Land 
according to direction by our mutuall agreements and concessions as 
folloeth 

Imprimis That the Committe hereby have power to run and mark 
out the line that devides the long lot that was of Mr. John Winslows 
originally and the Lot that Mr Anthony Low now lives upon from the 
Land above said which is now to be devided 

That the Committe aforesaid shall and may Lay out the home Lots 
fronting upon the river now Called Swansey River Exstending them both 
for their lenthes and breadthes according to there best skill and abillity 
for the benifitt Intrest and Conveniency of the whole 

That the Committe aforesaid shall and have also hereby power to Lay 
out Convenient highwayes both publique and privet as they shall In there 
judgments think needfull 

That the said Committe shall and have hereby power to mark all the 
bounds of those Meadows as belong to severall perticular persons Longe 
since granted that lye within or about the lands aforesaid and that the 

44 



said Committe shall Attend one and the same rule and order for the dis- 
tinguishing what is meadow and what upland about said Lands and finally 
to act and doe all things needfull thereabout and what they the Committy 
or the Major part of them shall conclude to doe in and about the prem- 
ises for the settlement of the same as aforesaid shall be and hereby is 
Authentickly Confirmed by ye Proprietors 

That the said Committy have power and hereby shall have liberty 
to take a vew of all other the lands to be devided and consider ye best 
way and manner to make devition thereof in all respects most benificiall 
for the good of the whole and to bring in there opinions and Report, to 
the Company of Proprietors that accordingly they may Conclude and 
fully determine the same and what the Major part of the proprietors 
(which shall in all things concerning the premises be accounted accord- 
ing to the number of shares and proportions which each one does injoy 
as aforesaid) shall agree to and conclude shall be valid and Authentick 
according to all true interests and purposes whatsoever In witness 
whereof we the proprietors have again hereunto set our hands the day 
and year above written 

And further it is hereby mutually agreed and concluded by the pro- 
prietors aforesaid that the book of Records for the bounds of Lands per- 
taining to them in the hands of William Carpenter or Elsewhere be 
perused and that all the lands pertaining to us the proprietors be duly 
entred and bounded togeather with all our agreements and Concessions 
in and about the premises be also recorded to the end that peace and 
unity and a good understanding may be continued amongst us 

James Brown Stephen Pain 

John Saffin John Allen 

John Brown Peter Hunt 

Natha : Pain Stephen Pain Jur 

Thomas Chafey Israeli Peck 



45 



Aprill II Anno 1679 

At a HatufuU WntXt^li Mttin^ of the proprietors of the Land of 
Popanomscut it is mutually Concluded and agreed on that the home Lots 
butting upon the river being Layed out by the Committe and a high way 
down the neck at the head thereof the great lots shall be Layd out with 
all convenient speed by the said Committe Runing and Extending from 
the longe beach that buts upon the bay or great river as a direct Lyne 
runs to the said highway at the head of the home lots and from thence 
upon a direct lyne parralell as the said great high way runs through the 
dead Swamp heading or butting upon the Longe line on the northerly 
side of the said Swamp each lot to be according to each mans propor- 
tion according as the home lots are Layd 

2 In order whereunto it is also mutually agreed and Concluded by 
the said proprietors that each man shall throw up his peticular interest 
or devition of the said dead Swamp allready Layd out and take his or 
there part or proportion in the said great lots as there Lot shall fall be it 
in one place or another as the said lot shall Run as aforesaid 

3 That the lower part of the neck at the front of the said great lots 
that shall but upon the said lyne from the long beach togeather with the 
Litle neck of Land lying upon the river near Mr Aliens Meadow shall at 
preasant remain in Commen amoungst the proprietors undevided until 
further Consideration how to disspose of it and further it is mutually 
Agreed on by the proprietors that the said Committe shall cause the said 
lots to be drawn by an Indifferent person begining the first lot next the 
highway and finally to act and doe all other things touching the premises 
between man and man according to the tenour of our Concessions accord- 
ing to there best skill and ability witness our hands it is to be understood 
that the said Committe shall have power to determine how and in what 
manner Mr Aliens home lot shall be extended wheather on the Litle neck 
or otherwise 

James Brown Stephen Pain John Allen 

John Saffin John Brown Peter Hunt 

Jonathan Bosworth Joseph Chafey Israeli Peck 

46 



At ll|P (Btmmii Metxn^ of the proprietors on ye ii of April 1679 
It is mutually concluded to draw lots for the devition of the great lots at 
Popanomscut which accordingly was forthwith done beginning as afore- 
said at the highway at the head of the home lots to be the first in number 
which is Leut Peter Hunt's 

2 Thomas Chafey 6 Stephen Pain 

3 John Allen ... 7 John Saffin & Est. 

4 Natha : Peck ( James Brown & 

5 Samll Newman ( John Brown. 



August 28th 

®I| Olommitte in the behalfe of the Proprietors met about the Lay- 
ing out of the home Lots at Poppanomscut and cast lotts for the said 
Lands drawn by William Carpenter of Rehoboth whow was with Capt 
John Brown Surveighor at which time it was agreed that Mr John Allen 
should have his house lots at the head of his Marsh beyand the south line 
of the house Lots whence the lots began and were numberd as folloeth 
Leu Peter Hunt i Mr Samuel Newman and partners 5 

Mr Stephen Pain 2 Mr James Brown and John Brown 6 

Mr John Saffin 3 Capt Willets heirs 7 

Thomas Chafey 4 Israeli Peck & partners 8 



April 18: 1679 

Whereas it was agreed and mutually Concluded on by the proprietors 
of the Lands of Popanomscut that the Committe should determine and 
Conclude how and in what manner Mr John Aliens home Lot shall lye we 
having considered the premises doe Conclude that the said Lott shall Lye 
and remain to him and his heires and Assignes for Ever in the same 
forme as it is allready layd out next unto his Meadow on the river side 
Witness our hands 

John Saffin \ 

John Brown v the Committe 

John Allen ) 

47 



SWANSEY I5TH DAY OF MaRCH 1679 

1 At A Harttfti MttitV^ of the proprietors of the Lands at Popa- 
nomscut or Phebes Neck it is mutually agreed that Stephen Pain and 
Nathaniell Pain shall and will agree to and acquiese in the severall Agree- 
ments there predecesors have togeather with the other proprietors Con- 
cluded and subscribed unto touching or any way Relating to the lands 
aforesaid which they did hereby Assent unto as by there Subscription 
hereunto may apear 

2 That the Generall fence of the said Neck near Mr Anthony Lowes 
Land shall be repared and kept up by the proprietors according to there 
severall proportions and intrests and in order thereunto That the Com- 
mitte now in being take Care that it be forthwith done with all Convenient 
speed 

3 That the Longe lots or great lots allready drawn shall be forthwith 
Layd out to Each man according to his lot and proportion and also that 
the said Committe take a vew of the lower part of the said Neck and 
Consider the best way and manner how the said land shall be Layd out 
and the severall highways to be layd out for the good of the whole and 
according give there Report to the Company that all the said Land yet 
undevided may be forthwith devided to Each one according to his pro- 
portion 

4 That the former agreement by the Proprietors Concerning the 
Allination of any part of the said Lands be still attended viz that noe one 
that is a Proprietor shall or will sell or lett to any anypart of there 
Respective intrest or share of the said Lands to any person or persons 
that is not now a proprietor but shall first proffer the Sale or farming 
thereof to the Committe or the jMajor part of the proprietors whow may 
any one or more of them have the just Refusall or Reasonable Acceptation 
of said Land Exsposed to sale before any others whow have noe intrest in 
said Neck or Necks of Land they giveing as much for it as bone fide 
another will give 

That the said Neck be kept inclosed and not Exsposed to be fed from 

4S 



the first of May to the nine and twenty day of September or Michaellmas 
day and that the Proprietors may each one have the bennefit of the feed 
according to there Respective Shares 

5 That Mr John Allen and John Saffin are hereby impowred with 
Capt John Brown the Committe aforesaid to make sale of a pece of Land 
which Lyeth between the home Lots and Mr Anthony Lowes land to 
him the said Low or any other person he Refusing the same on such 
termes as they shall think reasonable in the behalfe of the Proprietors to 
defray Common Charges 

To all which Severall agreements on this and the other side being 
five or six articles we the Proprietors have hereunto sett our hands the 
day and year above written 

James Brown John Allen 

John Safiin John Brown 

John Peck Jonatha: Bos worth 

Thomas Chafey Sam :11 Newman 

Stephen Pain Natha :1 Pain 

Samuell Walker 



At a Legall ]\Ieeting of the Proprietors Jan: 14; 1680 

3t Wna mutually Concluded that a highway be Layd out through 
the midst of Chachapacasett Neck of two rod wide or as near ye midst as 
the Surveyor shall think fit as a Common highway for the generall use 
of the Proprietors and that there be left one rod between the bounds of 
the Meadow and the upland or Lots for a conveniensy of Carting hay 
onely or the Like not prejadusing any lot of upland further 

And That the lots begin on ye west side of the highway of two rods 
wide which Exstends from the north part to the south and soe around to 
Scamscammuck Spring 

And that Mr Allen have his allotment in the Litle Neck on the South 
Side of his house Lot Exsept so much as Apertaines to disscenter viz 



49 



Mr Nathaniell Pain Stephen Pain and Liut Hunts part in said Neck 
which is to be Layd out to them in the order and number as the other 
Samull Newman and partners i James Brown 5 

Nathaniell Pain and partners 2 Leut Hunt 6 

John Allen 3 John Saffin 7 

Nathaniell Peck & Israel Peck 4 John Brown 8 

James Brown John Allen John Brown 

Samull Newman Israel Peck Jonathan Bosworth 

Stephen Pain Nathall Pain Abraham Peren 

These lots were drawn by Joseph Chafey Jan. 14, 1680 



At a ICamfuU Mttm^ of the Proprietors of Poponomscut or 
Phebes Neck September 29, 1681 It is mutually agreed by the Proprietors 
above said that all our severall devitions and peticular proportions of Lands 
of said Neck shall be recorded and that Capt John Brown is mutually 
Chosen to be Recorder of the said Lands and Highways concluded and 
apoynted to be in the said Neck and all other things NeedfuU to be 
Recorded in and concerning the lands aforesaid and to be allowed soe 
much money as is usually given by the Inhabitants of the Town for there 
Lands in other places 

James Brown John Allen 

John Saflfin Samuell Peck 

Samurll Newman Abraham Perin 

Stephen Pain Nathaniell Pain 



Atth 3nxt\\n at lawfull warned and full meting of the Proprietors 
of the Lands aforesaid at Rehoboth on the twenty third of October one 
thousand six hundred Eaighty two Capt John Brown was againe Chosen 
Cleark for the Company of Proprietors and Accordingly was then Sworne 
Clcark before Mr Daniell Smith Assistent 

50 



An Arrouttt of tl|j l^tgljujaypH 

f^r^as we the Subscribers being a standing Committe mutually 
Chosen and confirmed by the Proprietors of the lands of Popanomscut or 
Phebes Neck to lay out run and mark out the Longe Lyne which is the 
northerly bounds of the said Neck on the back side of the dead Swamp 
and also for the stakeing and marking out of the bounds and Limmits 
of all the meadowes bordering upon the Lands aforesaid and also for the 
Staking Laying out and Conferming of highways convenient both gen- 
eral and peticular according to our Judgements We upon Mature Con- 
sideration have accordingly with great care and industry Run the Longe 
Lyne aforesaid upon the right poynt which is East and by South two 
degrees Southerly or west and by north two degrees northerly by a fly 
Compas as the trees are well marked 

2 That the bounds and Limmits of the said meadows are and shall 
be from the spring called Skamskamuck as they are respectively marked 
out and playnly stated and bounded by or upon the upland aforesaid 
Round about the neck untill you come to the uttermost Exstent of the 
Meadows at Nayeot which are accordingly Confermed 

3 That the Great Highway at the head of the home Lots and on 
which the front or butt runs down from the aforesaid Longe Lyne or 
northerly bounds of the neck or Lands aforesaid Runs down the said 
Neck nearest upon a north and south Lyne soe far as the home lots 
exstend southerly being from the head of the said lots four rods broad 
westerly and from the said southerly Side of the said home lotts there is 
another highway runs to the west side of hides hole on a West poynt four 
rods wide and from thence south downe towards the Beach eaighteen 
Chaines the same breadth aforesaid and from thence to the Peckes 
Meadow at the Longe beach and from thence by the Meadow side two 
rods broad from the bounds of the Meadows untill it Comes to the Lands 
of Capt John Brown Even to the westerly bounds of Samuell Newmans 
Meadow 

4 And also from and out of the Southerly highway downe the Litle 
Neck called Chachapacasett another highway of two rods Broad as it is 
marked out Extending down to the meadows as it is already marked out 

51 



5 And also out of the four Rod highway by Hunts Lyne to Pecks 
Meadow runing towards the East Another Leading way of one rod broad 
from the bounds of the Meadows all aLonge as they Lye untill you Come 
to the bottom of ye Neck to the highway aforesaid which ways are to be 
enclosed with gates or bars as accation may be when the said neck or any 
part thereof shall at any time be fenced and it is allwayes to be under- 
stood yt there is to be a highway at the bottom of the Neck of two rods 
wide by the meadow side Left as aforesaid 

6 And also Another highway out of the grand way at the Head of 
the home lots aforesaid towards the East by the fence side of the home 
Lot of Mr John Saffin as it now runs to the river side Exstending from 
the said fence towards Mr Lowes Land bought of the Pecks, two rods 
which is taken out of the said Safifins said home lot in Lew of the highway 
that was desined some time to goe through some part of that Lot but now 
thought more convenient as it is now stated 

7 And also Another highway running out of the grand highway at 
the head of the home Lots towards the East to the river between the home 
Lott of Thomas Chafey and John Saffins Lot which is two rods Broad 
and was formerly Litended to be and lye between the said Chafey and 
Samuell Newmans home lot to the River aforesaid 

8 And Allso in the Last place we the said Committe doe Advise and 
deem most convenient that the highway of two Rod broad formerly 
desined and Left to Run downe to the River between the Pecks home 
Lot and the Land we sould and have Layed out to Mr Anthony Low be 
by him now Layd out on the lower or Southerly Side of his lot bought of 
the Pecks aforesaid, the which if he refuse then the said high way is to 
lye open as a Common Highway as aforesaid and to Come by the River 
Side by the said way Left by the said Saffin 

9 And farther we declare that at the Runing of the Long Lyne on 
the Northerly side of the dead Swamp aforesaid which is the head of the 
great lots Layd out through said Swamp we the said Committe did allso 
Run and Mark out the Easterly side of Capt Myles Standish deaseased 
his lot which Runs upon a south Lyne by the Compas aforesaid downe 
from the Longe Lyne aforesaid as it is staked out and marked all which 

52 



bounds of Meadows highwayes sett out and staked as abovesaid with all 
and Singular the Respective Lynes Run and marked as abovesaid in and 
about the premises we doe hereby Conclude determine Rattafie and Con- 
ferme so to be and for Ever Remaine Witness our hands this second 
day of Januarye 1681 

John Allen ^ 

John Saffin V the Committe 

John Brown J 

And ffarther we the Committe above said doe Conclude determine 

and hereby declare that there is and for ever shall be a Leading Cart way 

of one rod broad from the great highway by Mr, Anthony Lowes home 

field all along a Crose the heads of the Long lotts on the northerly side 

of the dead Swamp Close by the Long line as it Runeth untill it comes 

to Capt Standishs lott Dated in Swansey the Second day of January 

Anno 1 68 1 

John Saffin \ 

John Brown v the Committe. 

John Allen J 



Att Agrp^m^nt as to the Division of Certain Uplands 
Swamps and Meadows 

Rehoboth the iSth of November 1681 



JOUl have hereunto subscribed being a community and true 
proprietors of certain uplands Swamps and Meadows of Sundery Sorts 
Lying and being in the Colony of New Plymouth, The right whearoff 
we derived from divers Gentlemen whow by order from the Honored 
Generall Court of New Plymouth did purchase it of the Great Sachem 
Osamequin and Wamsetto his son as by deed under their hands and 
Scales bearing date March the 29th 1653 may Apear And having a reall 
sence of and laying to hart the great mischifes and inconveniences that 
may Arise and accrew unto ourselves and posteritye for want of the true 
stating and exact bounding of each ones devition and peticular propriety 
and intrest in and to the said uplands Swamps and Meadowes doe upon 

53 



mature Judgement and Consideration in the discharge of our duty to God 

and for the prevention of Evill and discord that may arise And for the 

promoting and Continuance of Love unitye and peace amongst ourselves 

and those that doe succeed us mutually Agree and unanimously conclude 

first that a Committee be forthwith Chosen to take notice of the Clames 

and bounds of Each ones perticuler Lands Swamps and Meadows and 

take an exact accont thereof and present to us or the Major part of the 

proprietors dewly warned for Confermation thereof upon Record the 

persons by us Chosen as a Committe in order to the previous one as fol- 

loeth: Capt John Brown Mr John Allen Senior And in Case Mr John 

Allen cannot attend to it then Jonathan Bosworth Senior and Mr Noah 

Floyd 

James Brown John Allen 

John Saffin Noah Floyd 

John Viall Jonathan Bosworth 

Samull Newman Israeli Peck 

Stephen Pain Nathll Pain 

Joseph Peck John Brown 



A 3Rfrorb Ot iUpmnmU of the Severall devitions 
and bounds of all the Meadows and marsihes Salt or Fresh 
of any kind or sort what so Ever with all there Appur- 
tenances given and granted, by Osamequin and Wamsitto 
his Eldest sone unto Certaine Gentlemen in or about the 
Towne of Plymouth mentioned in and according to the 
Tenor of the Grand deed of Sale sined and sealed by the 
said Osamequin and Wamsitto Sachims Bearing date the 
Twenty ninth day of March Anno 1653 longe since Layed 
out and devided by and betwene the said persons whose 
names are mentioned in the deed aforesaid according to 
there Respective sibares and devitions searched out Exam- 
ined marked and Renued by us the subscribers as a Com- 
mitte Chosen and apoynted by the Community of Proprie- 

54 



tors of the Meadows aforesaid as by an instrument bear- 
ing date the i8th November 1681 may appeare is as fol- 
loeth 

Imprimis Bounds of the severall Devitions of the Meadows fresh 
or salt of any kind wtiatsoever as aforesaid that are Situate lyeing and 
being upon the East and Westerly sides of Kecamuet River and soe Round 
about Mount hope neck butting and bounding upon the said River & 
Saltwater Bay untill you Come to Poppasquash and parts Adjacent take- 
ing in all the Marshes and Medowes as aforesaid by or upon the saltwater 
Bay unto Poppanumscut and so Round butting upon the River to the head 
of Belchers Creek in perticular is as folloeth 

1 The first lott originally Capt Myles Standish sold to Mr. John 
Brown Senior and Capt Thomas Willett beginneth at the head of Keca- 
muet River and Lyeth Round on both sides thereof Easterly and West- 
erlye till one comes to the passage where they have usually gone over 
with canooes over against Job Winslowes now dwelling house and from 
thence bounding upon the Easterly side of said River towards ye west 
to the side of a certain Creek below the now dwelling house of Hugh 
Cole wihich Creek Runs towards the upland north East and bounding 
towards the East so far as the moable Land Exstendeth takeing in all 
the Island or hummocks of and small strips or poynts of upland in or 
about the said Meadowes as is allowed according to the tenor of the 
Grand Deed 

2 The Second lott of Meadow as aforesaid begineth from the said 
Creek South Easterly Runing down and butting upon the said River 
towards the west and bounding upon the upland so far up as the moable 
Land Lyeth and Exstending to and butting upon the next Creek Called 
Clark Creek runing towards the upland or Swamp north and by East 
Easterly to a small black oak marked which Lot of Medow was originally 
Exsperience Mitchells Lott sold and allianated to Capt Thomas Willett 
and by him sold to Mr John Brown Senior all which is according to the 
tenor of the Grand deed 

3 The Third Lot of Meadow origeonally John Adams and by him 
sold to John Allen and Joseph Peck desesed begineth at the Creek where 

55 



the Second lot Endeth butting and bounding upon Kecamuet River 
towards the West and upon the upland towards the East all along so far 
up as the Moable Land Exstendeth untill it comes to the head of a Creek 
or Cove which Lyeth north and by East Easterly to Rocke Run accord- 
ing to the tenor of the Grand deed 

4 The ffourth Lott of Meadow originally Resolved Whites sold to 
Mr Stephen Pain Begineth at the Creek or Cove wheare the third lot 
Endeth and takes in all the Meadow of any Kinde butting upon the said 
River towards the West and upon the upland towards the East so far up 
as the Moable Land Lyes and downwards towards the south to Way- 
poyset and lyeth and is Layed out for Seaven Acres by Estemation the 
other thre acres belonging to this lott to make it ten begineth on the 
westerly side of said Kecamuett River at the first pece or percell of 
Meadow below the said passage with Canooes that is over against Job 
Winslowes now dwelling house and runs downe butting upon the said 
River toward the East and upon the upland of Mount Hope Neck so far 
up as the Moable Land Lyeth to a broaken red oak tree towards the 
South Ranging with three stakes or stones in the Meadow upon an East 
and by north poynt to the River aforesaid according to the tenor of the 
Grand deed 

5 The fifth Lott of Meado being a Common lot and fell to Capt 
Thomas Willett by Agreement begineth towards the north at the broaken 
stake marked with four on the one side and five on the other side and is 
bounded towards the East upon Kecamuet River aforesaid towards the 
West upon Mount hope Neck upon the upland so far up as the Moable 
Land Lyeth Exstending towards the south down to a Certain (marked) 
Stake marked five on one side and six on the other Ranging to the midle 
of a small Creek or cove branching out of the said River upon an East 
and by South line halfe a poynt Southerly according to the Tenor of the 
Grand Deed 

6 The Sixth Lot of Meadow being also a common lott and was by 
Agreement graunted to Mr Stephen Pain Senior and to the Browns begins 
towards the north where the fifth lott Endeth butting and bounding upon 
the river Kecamuet towards the East upon the upland of Mount Hope 

56 



towards the West so far as the Moable land Lyeth and so runs down 
towards the south to the narrow Passage Called Waypoyset and from 
thence runs down Round about Mount hope hill takeing in all the mead- 
ows of any kind butting upon the salt water bay or River and bounding 
upon the upland of Mount Hope so far up as the Moable Land lyeth 
untill one comes to the Rocks by the ferry going over from Mount Hope 
to Road Island which now belongs to the Paines and from thence this lott 
takes in all the pieces or parcels of Meadow lying Round the Neck untill 
one Comes to a Certain Stake and heap of stones at the poynt of Meadow 
which beares upon the Southerly poynt of Pappasquash West halfe a 
poynt Southerly all which from the Rockes at the ferry aforesaid belonges 
still to the Browns and Paines aforesaid And from thence this same lott 
from the said stake and heap of stones takeing in all the Meadow butting 
upon the Bay towards the west and all the meadow round the poynt with 
the small Island of upland lying about the Rockey Cove westerly with ye 
flatts and bounding upon the upland of Mount Hope so far up as the 
Moable land Lyeth towards the East and so Round on both sides ye small 
Creek and fresh Run, and so takes in all towards the north to a Certain 
Stake with a heap of stones at the Exstraame or utmost poynt of said 
peice of Meadow which now belongs to Mr James Brown and Capt John 
Brown by Agreement And the last peice or persells of meadow of any 
kind belonging to this lot Lyeth by a creek or pond over about the midle 
of Popasquash neck and parts Adjacent takeing all the medow and moable 
Land towards the upland and Swamp there about which is yet to be 
devided between the Browns and Paines aforesaid according to the Ten- 
our of the Grand Deed 

7 The Seaventh lot of Meadow origionally Allianated to Mr Stephen 
Pain Senior and by him sould to Henery Smith and Phillip Walker begin- 
eth at a Stake and heap of stones at the Southerly Side of a peice of 
Meadow butting from thence upon the Bay west to a rock in the Bay 
near the shoare and from thence Runs up round the Cove on both sides 
the Creek Called Walkers Creek butting and bounding upon the upland 
of Mount hope so far up Round about towards the south East north and 
West as the moable land and Meadow of any kind lyeth untill it comes 

57 



to a heap of stones at the poynt towards the north parting between this 
lot and Capt Thomas Willetts next Lot of Meadow according to the tenor 
of the Grand Deed 

8 The Eaighth Lott of Meadow origionally Capt Thomas Willetts 
beo-ineth at the stake and heap of stones whear the seaventh lott endeth 
on the poynt by Walker Creek aforesaid towards the south and from the 
said Stake Runeth upon a west Lyne to the mouth of said Creek and 
from thence exstendeth towards the north to the Indian fourt beyond the 
Swamp by the Hill side near the Spring taking in all the Meadow and 
Moable Springy land upon the upland of Mount hope towards the East 
and is butted and bounded upon the bay towards the west takeing in all 
the Meadow and Moable Lands Island or humocks of upland on both sides 
the Creek or pond Runing up towards the Indian fort aforesaid and 
from thence runs round about the cove of Meadow above the Elme tree 
and willow Bushes so far up as the Moable land Lyeth towards the north 
untill it comes to the head of the bay round about the small pond to the 
utmost poynt of Meadow or Marsh bounded by a white oak blown up by 
the roots butting from thence upon the Bay aforesaid according to the 
tenor of the Grand Deed 

9 The Ninth Lot of Meadow which was origionally John Adams 
about Popasquash Neck begineth at the uttermost poynt or part of the 
Meadow or Marsh butting upon the Bay at the Creeks mouth towards the 
west and from thence butting upon the Creek or pond towards the north 
and so is bounded upon the upland of Popasquash neck towards the south 
so far up as the Moable Land Lyeth and so Round about the Cove of 
Meadow on both sides the small Creek issuing out of the Swamp untill it 
comes to a marked Red oake upon the upland side towards the East 
bounded thereby upon a west north west Lyne half a poynt northerly 
bearing upon a great Rock on the other side of the said Pond according 
to the tenor of the Grand Deed 

10 The Tenth Lott of Meadow origeonally Thomas Clarks begineth 
at the said marked Red oak and lyne runing through the Marsh upon a 
west north west halfe a poynt northerly lyne to the pond butting upon 
the said pond as it lyeth towards the west takeing in all the Meadow and 

58 



Moable Land upon the upland towards the East untill it comes to a great 
white oake marked ten on the one side and Eleven on ye other and from 
thence runs down butting upon the Pond from the said tree upon a north 
west and by west lyne Ranging by three Rockes according to the tenor 
of the Grand Deed 

11 The Eleventh Lott of Meadow begineth at the great white oake 
whear the tenth lot endeth and is bounded towards the South upon the 
said north west and by west Hne Ranging with three rock's towards the 
South upon the upland so far up as the IMoable land lyeth towards the 
east and so bounding upon a certain marked tree towards the north and 
from thence is bounded by a west north west line half a poynt northerly 
by the head of a small Pond lying in the meadow of Capt Thomas Willett 
and was origeonally the Meadow of John Winslow Purchased by Stephen 
Pain senior according to the tenor of the Grand Deed 

12 The Twelveth Lot of Meadow originally Thomas Cushmans Pur- 
chased by Capt Thomas Willett begineth at the white oake marked Eleven 
on the one side and twelve on the other whear ye Lott of Mr Stephen Pain 
Endeth and Runs upon a west north west lyne at the head of a small pond 
in this Meadow butting and bounding upon the upland Round about the 
Cove of Meadow so far up as the Moable land Lyeth towards the East 
north and west and upon the Meadow of Stephen Pain towards the South 
According to the tenor of the Grand Deed 

The next parcell of Meadow in Common amongst the purchasers 
Called Grate Meadow sould to Air Anthony Low begins at a Certain 
Stake at the Southerly poynt of the said IMeadow butting and bounding 
upon the bay all alonge as it Lyeth towards the north and bounded upon 
the upland of Mount hope towards the south and East so far as the Aloa- 
ble land Lyeth according to the tenor of the Grand deed till it comes to 
the stake at the end of the said Meadow Northerly 

13 The Next Lott of Meadow begineth at a wild Cherrie tree marked 
by the beach side at the lower end or poynt thereof butting upon the Bay 
towards the west all a long till it comes to a stake by the beach side at 
the head of a flaggy Pond and from thence upon a south south east poynt 
Ranging by stakes to the upland or Swamp upon Alount hope neck so 

59 



far up as the Moable Land lyeth till it Comes to the Cherrie tree again 
being Layd out for six Acres and a halfe origeonally belonging to the 
Whites and by them sold to Mr Stephen Pain Senior the Remainder of 
Which lott to make it up ten Acres shall be hereafter mentioned in its due 
place according to the Tenor of the Grand Deed 

14 The Fourteenth Lott of Meadow origionally pertaned to John 
Winslow and by him sould to Stephen Payne Senr begineth at the said 
stake at the flaggy Pond by the beach side bounded by the thirteenth lott 
towards the south and Runs upon a south south East lyne a poynt Easterly 
to upland or Swamp upon Mount hope neck so far as the moable land 
lyeth round about the Cove of meadow takeing in all the hummocks or 
strips of upland in the said Meadow untill it comes to the run or spring 
issuing out of the upland and from thence it runs up to a marked walnut 
tree at the dich in the meadow parting the next lot of Meadow some time 
pertaining to Capt, Thomas Willett takeing in all the Meadow and Moable 
land Islands or hummocks of upland in or about the said Meadow But- 
ting upon the river of Swansey towards the west according to the tenor 
of the Grand Deed 

15 The Fiveteenth Lot of Meadow origionally belonging to Capt. 
Thomas Willett begineth at and is bounded towards the south with the 
ditch Ranging with the walnut tree upon a west and by north lyne halfe 
a poynt northerly to the river of Swansey and from thence runs up 
bounded by the upland so far as the Moable land lyeth towards the East 
imtill it Comes to the uttermost poynt of the said Meadow towards the 
north and is bounded upon Swansey River towards the west According 
to the Tenor of the Grand Deed 

The Remainder of the Meadow to make up the six Acres and a halfe 
below ten Acres lyeth part at a place Called Princes Pond on the Westerly 
side of Swansey River and is bounded towards the south upon the high- 
way that Leadeth up to an Eaighty Acre lott of upland some time Capt. 
Willetts to the west towards the said Pond to the north upon the lott of 
upland some time Thomas Clarke's to the East on the River And partly 
upon Popanomscutt on the Easterly Side of the River begining at the 
Southerly part of the Meadow over against the Litle Island in the fork 

60 



of the River takeing in all the Meadow and Moable land Islands and 
hummocks of upland Lying and being in and about the said Meadow to 
an ould stump upon the upland of Brook's Pasture Runing from the 
stump upon a flatt stone piched up on a north East lyne halfe a poynt 
Easterly ranging with a rock and soe Cross a small Pond to the River 
according to the tenor of the Grand Deed 

i6 The Sixteenth Lot begineth from the said old stump and flat 
stone piched up and runs upon the Southerly side of the River and 
Belchers Creek till it comes to the head there of takeing in all the Meadow 
and Moable Land Hummocks or Islands of upland in or about the said 
Meadow bounding upon the said River or Creek Towards the north and 
upon the upland of Brookes his pasture towards the south and to the head 
of Belchers Creek aforesaid Towards the East and was origionally Josiah 
Winslow sold to Mr Stephen Payne Senr and Mr Peter Hunt according 
to the tenor of the Grand deed 



iH^mnrtall or ^ttavh oi the bounds of all the mead- 
owes fresh or salt situate Lying or being at or about Popa- 
nomscut lands or Phebees Neck Round about butting upon 
the Great River Called Swansey River and upon the Salt 
water Bay and creeks Adjacent and the persons to whome 
the said Meadowes did origionally Appertain according to 
the tenor and true mening of the Grand deed Bearing date 
the twenty ninth day of March 1653 is as folloeth 
I The first Lot of Meadow origionally Thomas Clarkes since pur- 
chased by John Allen senr begins at a marked oake saplin and heap of 
stones bearing East South East upon the Great River now called Swan- 
sey River and from thence lyeth down butting upon the River all round 
about the neck Takeing in all the small Islands or Hummocks of upland 
lying scattering in the said Meadow bounding upon the Easterly side of 
a Cove or Branch of the said River Running up towards scamscammuck 
spring till it comes to a small Creek runing up East north East to a marked 
Maple tree takeing in all the Meadow or Moable Land in said bounds 
According to the tenor of the Grand deed 

61 



2 The Next Lot of Meadow origionajly John Adams since pur- 
chased by John Allen senr and Mr Joseph Peck deaseased begins at the 
Maple tree takeing in all the Meadow butting upon the westerly side of 
the small Creek and Cove aforesaid butting and bounding upon the upland 
towards the west so far up as ye Moable Land Lyeth Round between the 
Great River and the upland so far up as the Moable Land Lyeth unto the 
marked tree upon the upland down to a marked white oak standing in the 
Meadow and from thence upon a south west poynt to a Great Rock in the 
Bay According to the tenor of the Grand Deed 

3 From That lot begins Another Called the Common Lot takeing in 
all the Meadow from the bounds aforesaid to the Bay bounded towards 
the north to the higliway at the bottome of the Neck towards the south 
and west upon the Bay according to the Tenor of the Grand deed 

/ I The first devition whereof Exstends to a black oake blown up by 

the rootes marked and runs upon a south west Lyne westerly to the north 
west end of a flat Rock in the Bay and now belongs to Mr John Allen 
Senior 

2 The Second devition begineth whear the first endeth and now 
belongs to the Pecks and Exstends to an ould broaken oak stump Runing 
upon a south west Lyne westerly to the Bay 

3 The Third devition belonging to Mr James Brown and Capt John 
Brown Exstending from the said ould broaken oak stump to a marked 
horn bow tree Runing from thense upon a south west Lyne westerly upon 
the Bay 

4 The Fourth and last divition of the said Common Lot at the bot- 
tome of the Neck Runs from the said marked hornbow tree upon a south 
west Lyne westerly to the Bay and now belongs to Leut Peter Hunt all 
which devitions are according to the tenor of the Grand deed 

5 The Meadow about Hides hole being the revertion of the common 
meadow as it is bounded with the upland and beach on all sides so far as 
the moable Land Lyeth pertaneth to Samuell Newman Phillip Walker 

\ Henery Smith and Thomas Chaffey. 

4 The next ten acre Lot of Meadow origionally Mr William Brad- 
fords is bounded from a marked small tree upon the Bay at a stake on the 

62 



Easterly poynt of said Meadow or Marsh on a South and by West Lyne 
and was purchased by Mr Joseph Peck and Mr Samuell Newman the 
Minister now deaseased and devided between Nathaniell Peck and Israel 
Peck on the Easterly End thereof and Samuel Newman towards the west 
bounded upon a south Lyne westerly from the upland towards the Bay 
as the stakes are set betwene the meadow which the said Pecks part of 
said Lot and yt thereof pertaning to Samuell Newman which is bounded 
with the Marsh or Meadow Land belonging to Mr James Brown and 
Capt John Brown towards the west as ye ditch Runs from the upland 
towards the Bay upon A South and by west Lyne according to the tenor 
of the Grand Deed 

5 The Next Parcell of Meadow Begins at the said ditch and fence 
of the said Newmans westerly bounds takeing in all the Meadow lying 
between the upland and the said Bay to Nayot poynt and was given and 
graunted to Mr John Brown Senior by the Proprietors for twelve Acres 
more or less and now belongeth to the said Mr James Brown and Capt 
John Brown According to the tenor of the Grand Deed 

6 The Next Lot origionally Capt Miles Standishes Begineth at Nayot 
beach or Creek and takes in all the Meadow of any sort or kind on both 
sides of Mouscodhuck Northerly Creek and allso on both sides the East- 
erly Creek and all the meadow on Annawomscut Creek so far up as the 
Moable Land Lyeth according to the Tenor of the Grand deed all which 
Meadow situate Lying and being on the Easterly Creek and all the 
Meadow on the East side of the northerly Creek and all the Meadow on 
Nayett side pertaneth to Mr James Brown and Capt John Brown And all 
the other Meadow on the west side of the northerly Creek and all the 
Meadow lying upon Annawomscutt Creek Pertaines to Capt Thomas 
Willett Since Allianated to William Allen 



63 



A i^pmoriall or ISitSOXh of the Bounds of all the 
Meadows fresh or salt situate Lying and being on or 
about New Meadow Neck buting and bounding upon 
Newmeadow River and Creeks and Swamps Adjacent 
and the persons to whome the said Meadows origionally 
did pertain according to the tenor and true meaning of the 
Grand deed bearing date the twenty nineth day of March 
one thousand six hundred fivety three is as foUoeth 

1 The bounds of the first Lott of Meadow butting upon the westerly 
side of New Meadow River begins at a small Ledge of Rockes by the 
said River side upon the upland upon a south South East Lyne halfe a 
poynt Easterly to a rock in the River and from thence takeing in all the 
Meadow and Moable Land between the upland and the River untill one 
Comes to a broaken oak and from thence Runs upon an East and by south 
line a quarter of a poynt Southerly butting and bounding upon the said 
River And origionally was the lot of Exsperience Mitchell sould to and 
purchased by Capt Thomas Willett and from him to Mr John Brown 
Senior taking in all the Meadow and Moable Land so bounded according 
to the Tenor of the Grand deed 

2 From thence even from the sd broken oak begins the Comon 
Meadow being five Acres more or less butting upon the said River 
Exstending to a pine tree in the meadow and runs upon an east & west 
lyne to a Cove in the s'd River takeing in all the Meadow between the 
River and the upland between said bounds so far as the Moable Land 
Lyeth according to the tenor of ye Grand deed 

3 The Next Lot of Meadow which was origionally Thomas Cush- 
man purchased by Capt Thomas Willett Exstending from ye said pine 
tree Runing up Northerly to a pine tree and a ditch Runing upon an East 
and by South Lyne Southerly butting on the said Ryver as the moable 
Land Lyeth According to the tenor of the Grand deed 

4 The Next Lot of Meadow was origionally Mr Thomas Princes 
Lot purchased by Mr John Brown Senior Exstending Northerly to a white 
oake upon a poynt of upland marked of ould and now opened anew run- 

64 



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PHOTOGRAPH OF PAGE 35 IN SOWAMS RECORDS 



ing by a ditch upon a South East Lyne to the River takeing all the 
Meadow and Moable Land to the upland according to the tenor of the 
Grand deed 

5 The next Lot of Meadow origeonally was Mr Josiah Winslowes 
Exstending from the aforesaid oake and ditch Northerly to a narrow part 
of the Meadow to an ould oake Cut down Runing upon a stone piched 
downe on an East South East Lyne butting upon the said River takeing 
in all the moable Land within the bounds aforesaid according to the tenor 
of the Grand deed 

6 The Next Lot of Meadow origeonally John Winslows begineth 
where the other Endeth at the said stone and tree Exstending Northerly 
betwen the upland and the River to a white oake marked at the Lower 
End of a Longe piney poynt upon the mayne River aforesaid and so 
rangeth with a greeat pyne marked towards the top of the Ridge of said 
poynt towards the west takeing in all the Moable Lands within the bounds 
aforesaid According to the tenor of the grand deed 

7 8 The Next two Lots of Meadow Called broad Cove origionally 
the Meadow of Capt Thomas Willett and Exstendeth from the oake and 
pyne poynt aforesaid whear the other lot endeth up northerly to the 
Southerly side of a Certain Creek to a Certain Red oake marked on the 
poynt of upland on the upper end of the said Creek west south west take- 
ing all the Coves of Meadow and strips and poynts of upland with all the 
Moable Land so bounded according to the tenor of the Grand deed 

9 The Next Lot of Meadow origeonally John Adams purchased by 
Mr Joseph Peck and Mr John Allen senior and Runs up all alonge from 
the said marked red oake upon t)he said poynt takeing in all the Meadow 
and Moable Land upon the northerly side of the Creek butting upon the 
said River takeing in all the poynts and persells of Meadow untill it Comes 
about the midle of a triangle pece of Meadow to a Red Oake sapling 
marked Runing upon an east southEast Lyne through the Meadow by 
stakes to the sd River over against Rockey River by vertue of the Grande 
deed 

ID The Next Lot of Meadow origeonally John Winslowes which 

65 



Exstends from the said Sapling and stakes wihere the other Lot endeth 
upon the west side of the said River takeing in all the Meadow and Moa- 
ble Land to the uper End of the Salt marsh River Called New Meadow 
River According to the tenor of the Grand deed 

1 The first Lot on the East side of the River Called New Meadow 
River begins at the upper End of the Salt next to Palmers farme bound- 
ing upon the River westerly and the upland towards the East and takes in 
all the Moable Land untill it comes down to a small Creek Runing in 
towards the upland near or by the Clay pits towards the south and was 
origionally Josiah Winslowes by the Grand deed 

2 & 3 The second and third lots that were origionally Thomas Cush- 
mans Meadows purchased by Capt Willett begineth at the said Creek by 
the Clay pitts aforesaid towards the north and from thence runs down 
butting upon the River towards the west takeing in all the severall par- 
sells Coves of Meadow and Moable Land with all the small poynts strips 
and Islands or hummocks of upland Lying in and about the premises 
untill one Comes downe to the northerly part of the poynt of upland 
towards the south against the mouth of a Cove or Creek and from thence 
upon an East and! by South Line to a white oake marked and blown up 
by the Rootes on an Island of upland in the said Meadow to a Certain 
white oake tree on the upland Likewise blown up takeing in all the Moable 
land within the bounds afiforesaid According to the tenor of the Grand 
deed 

4 The fourth Lot of Meadow begins at the Root of the white oak 
tree whear the said two last Lots Ended and Runs down to the Southerly 
side of the Broad Cove to a black oake marked takeing in all the Meadow 
and Moable Land within the said bounds according to the tenor of the 
Grand deed And was originally the Meadow of Resolved and Perigrine 
Whites 

5 The fivefth Lot begins whear the fourth Lot endeth and runs down 
butting upon the River towards the west takeing in all the Meadow and 
Moable Land small poynts and Island or hummocks of upland till it comes 
down to the Northerly side of a piney poynt of upland Runing downe to 
the River upon an East and West poynt on a pine tree marked and fallen 

66 



downe by the River side and was origionally Josiah Winslowes by vertue 
of the Grand deed 

6 The Next Lot of Meadow origionally Mr William Bradfords 
b'egineth at the said Pine tree wheare the last Lot Endeth and Runs upon 
Newmeadow River towards the west untill it Comes to a stake Ranging 
with a flat Rock and Stone in the Meadow by the fence to the said River 
on a west and by north line halfe a poynt northerly which is the bounds 
of this Lot towards the South takeing in all the Moable Land According 
to the Tenor of the Grand Deed 

7 The Next Lot origionally Mr Thomas Princes Meadow begins 
towards the North at the flat Rock wherewith the Last Lot Endeth and 
takes in all the Meadow and Moable Land between the upland towards the 
East and Westerly towards the River and Creek Called Belchers Creek 
untill it Comes to the head of said Creek on the Northerly side thereof 
which said Lot was Allianated by said Prince to Mr John Brown senior 
According to the tenor of the Grand deed 

The Severall Enteryes of the Exact Bounds and Limits of all the 
Marsh or Meadow Lands pertaining to sundry persons according to there 
origionall Graunts inserted in the Afore written folios have ben by us the 
subscribers Carefully searched out and duely Examined and truely stated 
According to our best skill and abbillity we being Chosen as a Committe 
by the Company of Proprietors to that purpose on the eaigtheenth of 
November one thousand six hundred Eaighty one 

Witnes our hands 

John Brown \ 

John Allen v as a Committe 

Noah Floyde j 



At U SImufwU Marn^b and full Meting of the Pro- 
prietors at Rehoboth on the twenty third day of October 
one thousand six hundred Eaighty two 
Wee the Proprietors of all the Meadow Lands be it fresh or salt as 
above mentioned According to there origionall Graunts Respectively 
bounded and by the dilligent Search and Survey of the Committee by us 

67 



Apoynted found out and Cleared up and now presented to us for our 
Approbation and Assent to be Recorded for the Reall use and benifit of 
ourselves and them that shall Survive us And having Perused and 
Maturely Considered the Premises doe find to our great Satisfaction that 
the Severall parts thereof is truely and Justly bounded according to Each 
ones peticuler Right and true Propriety And Therefore doe by our unan- 
imous free Consent Allow and Conferme and Maintaine the same to be 
Authentick to all true intents and Purposes According to Law In Witnes 
Whearof wee have hereunto Sett our hands the day and year above 
written 

James Brown Peter Hunt 

John Safifin John Allen 

John Brown Noah Floyd 

John Viall Samuell Peck 

Stephen Payn Nathaniell Payne 

Anthony Low Samuell Newman 

Israeli Peck Joseph Chafey 

John Payne Abraham Perren 
Joshuah Smith 



}tVSU& theire hath bin a Misunderstanding and defif erence between 
the heirs of Ensign Henery Smith of Rehoboth and Robert Millerd of 
the Town Aforesaid about the bounds of the fourth and fifth ten Acre 
Lots of Meadow Lying on the East side of New Meadow River in 
Swansey 

It is now concluded and Agreed by Capt Peter Hunt overseer of the 
heirs of the said Henry Smith and Joshuah Smith Eldest Sonn of ye said 
Henry Smith And the said Robert Millerd that the bounds between the 
fourth and fifth Lots aforesaid is and shall be a white oake tree by the 
upland on the south side a Litle Creek Marked four on the North side 
and five on the south side and from thence on a west North west poynt 

68 



of Compas to a stake sett ranging with the midle of a Cove In Witnes 
whearof the said persons have hereunto set there hands this 19 of May 
1685 

Sined as witnesses 

Nicholas Peck Peter Hunt 

William Bartrem Joshuah Smith 

Obadiah Bowen Robert Millerd 

One Parsell of Meadow pertaning to Richard Whitteker laid out 
formerly for four Acres and a halfe to Phillip Walker and Henery Smith 
of Rehoboth desesed and to Samuel Newman viz two Acres to Phillip 
Walker two Acres to Henery Smith and halfe an acre to Samuell New- 
man and now all in the possestion of the said Richard Whitteker which 
said Meadow is situate on the west side of New Meadow Neck and is 
bounded on the North west with a Cove and westerly with the River 
Southerly with the Meadow of Nathaniell Peck and Easterly with the 
way of a rod wide 



A ^ttarli of % i'? wrall itmttattS and Bounds of 
the lands of Poppanomscut aliss Phebes Neck in the 
Township of Swansey pertaining to Sundry persons Pro- 
prietors thereof as it is Layd out is as folloeth to them 
& every of them their & every of their heirs & Assignes 
forever 

1 The first lott upon the River side being a single lott about thirteen 
Acres Called the home Lotts pertaineth To Leut Peter Hunt and is 
Bounded upon the said River and Mr Aliens Meadow towards the East, 
towards the South upon the Land of John Allen and the highway at an 
oake saplin with stone let into the ground about it, towards the west upon 
the great highway at the head of the home Lotts at a certain Stake with 
stones as aforesaid towards the north with the land of the Paynes at the 
head thereof by a stake, and by the River side with a stake by a celler 
digged with stones about it as aforesaid 

2 The second lott belongeth to the Paynes being three Lotts about 

69 



thirteen Acres each and is bounded towards the East upon the meadow 
of John Allen towards the south upon the Land of Peter Hunt at the 
stake by the cellar aforesaid towards the west upon the great highway 
at a stake with stones about it as aforesaid towards the north upon the 
Land of John Saffin to a saplin marked being three Lotts and is about 
thirty eaight Rod in Breadth and is thus devided viz from the aforesd 
stake by the Cellar to a Certain split stake neare the said meadow with 
stones about it being two thirds of the aforesaid three lots and from 
thence to the aforesaid sappling towards the north with stones about it 
Let into the ground which Lot pertaines to John Paine 

3 The Third Lott belongs to John Saffin being a single lott about 
thirteen Acres and is bounded Towards the East partly upon the said 
John Aliens Meadow and partly upon the River Towards the South upon 
the Land of John Paine to a sappling marked S with stones about as 
aforesaid towards the west upon the great highway at a stake with stones 
as aforesaid towards the north upon a highway of two Rod wide, going 
down to the River 

4 The fourth Lot belongs to Thomas Chafey being a single Lott 
about thirteen Acres and is bounded towards the East upon the River 
towards the South upon the said highway Leading to the River at a sap- 
ling marked by the River side towards the west by the great highway 
towards the North to a young wallnut tree marked and upon the Land 
of Samuell Newman 

5 The Lot belongs to Samuell Newman & partners being a single 
Lot about thirteen Acres and is bounded towards the East upon the River 
towards the South upon the Land of Thomas Chafey to a young walnut 
marked with stones about it towards the west upon the Great highway 
at the head of the said Lots as aforesaid and towards the North upon the 
Land of Mr James and John Brown at a sapling by the River side 
marked E B 

6 The sixth Lott being two single Lotts and a halfe Containing 
about thirty two Acres and a halfe belongs to James Brown and John 
Brown & is bounded upon the River towards the East towards the South 
upon the Land of Samuell Newman and partners towards the West upon 

70 



the Great highway at the head of the said Lotts towards the North upon 
the Land of Capt Thomas Wilets heires to a stake with stones at the head 
and to a sapHng marked T W in the hedge by the River side at a sandy 
poynt 

7 The Seaventh Lott being five single Lotts Containing about sixty 
five Acres belongeth to Capt Thomas Willets deaseased his heires and is 
bounded towards the East upon the River towards the South upon the 
land of Mr James and John Brown at the said sappling in the hedge by 
the river side at a sandy poynt steep too towards the west upon the Great 
Highway at the head of the said Lots towards the North Exstending as 
the River Lyes is bounded upon the highway two Rod within the fence 
towards the South as the fence now stands 

8 The Eaight Lott being one Lott & a halfe Containing about Nine- 
teen Acres and a halfe belongeth to the Pecks and is bounded upon the 
River towards the East, upon the highway that Leadeth to the River 
towards the South upon the Great highway at the head of the Lotts 
towards the west and towards the north upon the highway that leadeth 
to the River by the Land of Anthony Low Sould to him by the Proprie- 
tors with severall Stakes the ground digged with stones about it 

9 The Ninth Devition belonging to Anthony Low being about Eleven 
Acres sold to him by the Proprietors is bounded towards the East upon 
the river towards the south upon the highway Leading to the River 
towards the west upon the Great highway and towards the north upon 
the Long Line of the Ould Lots 

10 John Allen senr his hous Lott being two single Lotts Lying at 
the southward of the said house lotts is bounded towards the East upon 
the River and his Meadow towards the South by a Rock and a stake 
towards the west upon this Meadow and the Brook 

All these severall Lots were Layd out by a fly Compas and There 
Length Lyeth East and by South Southerly from the Great highway to 
the River by the aforesaid Compas 



flf^rp follof tl| the bounds of % (^Xtut IGottB Layd out in the said 

Phebes Neck upon a north and South Line by a fly Compas 



71 



1 Imprimis the first Lot pertaneth to Peter Hunt being a single Lott 
about thirty six Acres and is bounded towards the East upon the Great 
highway Runing down the neck towards the South upon the highway 
Leading towards the west and towards the west upon the Land of Thomas 
Chafey at a stake with a stone in the earth digged, towards the north 
upon the Longe Line by the dead Swamp at a Maple bush in the pond 
marked 

2 The Second Lott belongeth to Thomas Chafey and is thirty six 
Acres or thereabouts bounded towards the East to the land of Peter Hunt 
towards the South upon the Great west highway towards the west upon 
the Land of John Allen Sr towards the north upon the Longe Line 
bounded with Marks at the Respective Corners by Stakes and holes digged 

3 The Third Lott pertaneth to John Allen Sr being two single Lotts 
Contaning about Seaventy two Acres and is bounded towards the East 
to the Land of Thomas Chafey towards the South upon the west highway 
towards the west upon the Land of the Pecks towards the north upon the 
Longe Line bounded with marks and digged at the Respective Corners 

4 The fourth Lott belongeth to the Pecks containing one lott and a 
halfe being about fivety four Acres and is bounded towards the East upon 
the Land of John Allen Sr towards the South partly upon the Great west 
high way and partly upon said highway running Southerly by hides hole 
and soe bounded by the said way runing near west north west and 
towards the west upon the Land of Samuell Newman and towards the 
north upon the Longe line bounded with Markes at the Respective 
corners (with a wallnut at the North East and a Maple at the North West 
corner) 

5 The fifth Lott belonging to Samuell Newman and partners Con- 
taining about thirty six Acres and is bounded towards the East upon the 
Land of the Pecks towards the South on the Great highway by the Bay 
side towards the west upon the Land of the Pains towards the north upon 
the Long Line there Marked on the north west Corner with a green 
Maple tree in a swamp on the north East Corner with a Green wallnut 

6 The Sixth Lott being three single Lotts Containeing about one 
hundred and eaight Acres and is bounded towards the East upon the Land 

72 



of Samuell Newman and Partners, towards the South upon the Great 
highway upon the Bay towards the West upon the Land of Capt Thomas 
Willetts heirs and John Saffins towards the north upon the Long Line 
aforesaid And is Thus devided the third part whearof towards the west 
pertaineth to John Paine all of which is bounded with marks at the 
Respective Corners 

7 The Seaventh Lott Belongeth to the heirs of Capt Thomas Willett 
deaceased now to John Saffin and is bounded towards the East to the 
Land of the said John Paine towards the south upon the highway Lying 
partly upon the Bay aforesaid and partly upon the highway by the Meadow 
side towards the West upon the Land of James and John Brown to the 
Northwest Corner of Samuell Newmans Meadow And from thence upon 
a direct Lyne about north northwest to Toms spring to a Marked tree 
there and thence East northerly to a stake on the south side Moscachuck 
Creek there it Exstendeth north by the Land of Mr James Brown and Capt 
John Brown up to the Longe Line and bounded on the north with said 
Longe Line this parsell of Land containes two hundred and sixteen Acres 

8 The Eaight Lott being two shares and halfe Belongeth to James 
Brown Esq and John Brown and Containeth about ninety Acres and 
Eaight Acres formerly alowed them by the Indians and is bounded 
towards the East upon the land of John Saffin Towards the South upon 
there owne Meadows towards the west upon the Bay And towards the 
north upon the Creek and there own Meadow up to Toms Spring afore- 
said 



Lying on ye Lower and southerly most part of Phebes 
neck aforesaid is as folloeth 

The first Lott begineth on the west side of the highway that Runs 
down Southerly about the midle of the said neck belongeth to Samuell 
Newman and partners and is about thirteen Acres and a halfe bounded 
towards the north upon the Great highway Lying upon the front of some 
of the Great Lotts aforesaid towards the east upon the said highway Run- 

73 



ning down the said Lower Neck towards the South at a marked stake, 
upon the south the Land of the Paines towards the West upon the Bay 
or hides 'hole upon a west hne marked with stakes upon the highway and 
towards the north upon the highway 

2 The second Lott belongeth to the Paynes being three single Lotts 
or shares and is about thirty four Acres and halfe and is bounded towards 
the north upon the Land of Samuell Newman and partners towards the 
East upon the aforesaid highway towards the south upon the land of 
John Allen by a stake marked two and three the southerly third part 
whearof belongs to John Paine being own Lot or share towards the west 
upon the Bay upon a West Line 

3 The Third Lott being three Lotts or shares belongeth to John 
Allen Senr Containing by agreement about twenty three acres and a 'halfe 
and the remainder to make up the Complement of the three shares is Layd 
out in the Litle Neck Lying by the River side at the Southward of the 
said Aliens home Lotts and is bounded towards the East upon the high- 
way that Runs down the said Neck at a stake marked three and four 
the Earth digged and stones about it toward the south upon the Land 
belonging to the Pecks at a stake with stones as aforesaid And towards 
the west upon the Bay upon a west Line and towards the North upon 
John Paynes Lott 

4 The fourth Lott belongs to the Pecks being one share and a halfe 
being about twenty Acres and a quarter and is bounded towards the East 
upon the said highway at a stake as before Towards the South by the 
Land of James Brown Essquier at a stake digged as before Towards the 
west upon the Bay Runing thether upon a west Line North upon the 
Land of John Allen Senr 

5 The fifth Lott belongs to James Brown Esq being a share and a 
quarter Contaning about sixteen Acres and three quarters and is bounded 
towards the East upon the highway with stakes set and the earth digged 
about them towards the south upon the way (or Meadow bounds) Reserv- 
ing a Leading Cartway by the side thereof toward the west upon the Bay 
on a west Line betwene him and the Pecks Towards the North upon the 
Land of the Pecks aforesaid 

74 



6 The Sixth Lott Belongs to Peter Hunt and is about Eleven Acres 
and a halfe and is bounded towards the East and South upon the Meadow 
Limmits Reserving a Leading Cart way by the sides thereof towards the 
west upon the highway Runing down the Neck and towards the North 
upon the Land of John Saffin with stakes digged into the Earth 

7 The Seaventh Lott being six shares Containing about Eaighty one 
Acres and is bounded towards the East upon the Limmits of the Mead- 
ows Reserving a Leading Cartway by the side thereof Towards the South 
upon the Land of Peter Hunt towards the west upon the highway with 
stakes digged in the earth and stones about them and towards the North 
upon the Land of John Brown all which six shares belongs to John Saffin 

8 The Eaight Lott belongeth to John Brown being about Sixteen 
Acres and three quarters and is one share and a quarter and is bounded 
Towards the East upon the Limmits of the Meadows Reserving a Lead- 
ing Cart way by the side thereof Towards the south upon the Land of 
John Saffin towards the west upon the highway Running down the said 
Neck And Towards the north upon the highway Marked with stakes 
digged and stones about them as before 

All which Lotts aforesaid which Lye on the west side of the highway 
going down the sd Neck Run upon a west Line directly to the Salt water 
Bay and those Lots that Lye on the East side of the said highway going 
down the said Neck doe Run upon an East Line or poynt to the Meadows 
as aforesaid 

The remainder of the Land in the Litle Neck by the River side Lying 
at the Southward of Jdhn Aliens home Lott Belongeth to him the said 
John Allen graunted to him by the proprietors partly in his own Right or 
share thereof and partly in the Right of all the proprietors Exsept the 
paynes and Peter Hunt whow sould there Respective shares therein and 
for that Reason the said Allen hath Lese Land in his other devition of 
Chachapacauset Neck and John Saffin and the other proprietors have 
more by Exchange 

KtUitU all nt^tt by these preasents that I Stephen Paine of Rehoboth 
doe for me my heirs Executors and Administrators Release and forever 

75 



quit Game unto My Brother John Paine his heirs & Assignes all my Rig*ht 
title or intrest that I have had or may any way pretend to have in that 
share or Eaighteenth part of Phebis Neck with all the Rights members 
and Appurtenaces thereunto belonging or any maner of way appertain- 
ing to the same which my said Brother John Paine formerly Sould to 
John Saffin of Boston Marchant or his Assignes according to all true 
intents and purposes of the Law in that case provided Witnes my hand 
and seall this twenty Eaight day of October 1682 

Witness 

James Brown Stephen Pain 

The mark of (S) Samuel Sabin 

This instrument was by the above written Stephen Paine owned and 
acknowledged according to law the day and year above written Before 
me James Brown Assistant 



ArttrlfH of A^Vttmmt between Mr John Viall and Mr Noah 
Floyed both of the Town of Swanseyin the Government of New Plymouth 
in New England for and concerning of dividing of lands Ajacent to there 
dwelling house which they have in partnership between them (vis) that 
upon the third day of April 1680 The said partyes made a devition of the 
said Lands (vis) That the Said Mr John Viall shall have and in joy as his 
owne proprietye The whole field of improved Lands upon the Easterly 
side of the Long Lane being Surveighed and found to bee Sixty nine 
Acres be it more or less and also one Acre and a halfe out of the barn 
pasture Adjoyning the end of Mr Vialls part of the Barn To him the 
said Mr John Viall his heirs and Assignes forever, In Consideration 
whereof Mr Noah Floyd shall have and injoy as his own propriety the 
Remainder of the barn pasture and the great feild on the westerly side 
of the Long Lane both w^hich tracts of Land being surveighed and found 
to be seaventy Acres and a halfe be it more or less To the said Mr Noah 
Floyd his heirs and Assignes forever, (Provided) That for this preasent 
year the said Mr Viall shall have free Liberty to plant or improve for 
Corne what Lands he stands in need of out of the said Mr Floyds Lands 

76 



not exceeding nine Acres and also that the said Mr Viall or his heirs 
and Assignes shall have Liberty to take of his Crop or Crops at harvest 
And Likewise it is Agreed by both the said partyes that they shall Joyntly 
and Equally make up and Repair at Equall Charge all the fences for this 
year about all the aforesaid feilds now devided: As Also it is Agreed 
upon by both the partyes that a tract of Land that lyes about the barn 
shall forever Lye Common betwixt them as it is now staked out forever 
for Each there benifit for the maintaining of peace and Ounity between 
them And that also the Long Lane that is now between the said feilds 
shall forever Lye in Common between them both for passage and feeding : 
It is also to be understood that the orchards and the two small yards 
Ajoyning to the small orchards yet Lye in Equall partnership between 
them And Also it is agreed by both the said partyes that all the Lands 
that are yet in Joynt partnership between them shall be devided Equally 
within one year after the date hereof To w*hich Articles of Agreement 
we doe both firmly bind ourselves our heirs Executors or Administrators 
Witness our hands and sealls the day and year above written 
Sined sealed in the presence of 

John Brown John Viall 

Samuell Mason Noah Floyd 

William Carpenter 



Arttrlca of A^mmmt Respecting the devition of the orchards 
between Mr John Viall and Mr Noah Floyd of Swansey partners in the 
orchards aforesaid by the Assistance of Mr James Brown Esquer and Mr 
John Allen Senior this lo of desember 1680 

Imprimis that Mr. John Viall his heirs and Assignes shall have and 
enjoy forever the Litle orchard next the said Vialls Land or Northeast 
orchard and all that house standing in said orchard and the yard Ajoyning 
home to the highway Called the Longe Lane, and all the North part of 
the Great orchard bounded south by two stakes at which devition the 
said Mr Viall shall set up and maintain a fence a Crosse said orchard for 
Ever and is bounded East North and West by the fence as now it stands 

77 



and the North fence is to be joyntly maintaned betwixt said Viall and Mr 
Noah Floyd the said Mr Viall paying to Mr Floyd or his order three 
pounds as money in Corn or Cattle at or before the last of March next 
insuing and also the said Viall shall for ever Maintain the fence of his 
orchard Eastward 

In Consideration whearof the said Mr Noah Floyd shall have and 
injoy to him and his heirs and Assignes for Ever the south part of the 
great orchard next ajoyning to the said Floyds Land bounded by the 
aforesaid stakes and as now it is fenced south, East and West and all the 
Litle house Next the waggon house and the yard at the East End thereof 
as it is now fenced. In witnes of Every of the premises wee have here- 
unto the day and year above written set out hands and sealls 
Signed sealed and delivered 
in the presence of us ; viz. — 

John Allen John Viall 

James Brown Noah ffloyd 

Joihn Brown 



®I|fSf iEajJ (ttXtxfit all persons whome it doth concern that 
whereas Mr Eliacan Huchenson Marchant and Mr John Viall vintner of 
Boston in New England did make Joynt purchase of the houses and Lands 
of Capt Thomas Willett deaseased which Lands are situate in Rehobotih 
and Swansey in the Collony of New Plymouth and wear deemed Six hun- 
dred Acres more or less be it as by the deed bearing date August 25 : 1679 
may appear with the bounds thereof; and Mr Noah Floyd appearing on 
the behalfe of the said Huchenson to make devition of the premises they 
John Viall and Noah Floyd made thereof: and requested me the sub- 
scriber to be there Surveighor in and about said Lands : The Arable Lands 
wear devided according to the tenor and true meaning of two instruments 
under there hands one bearing date April 3, 1680 the other date is Desem- 
ber 10, 1680 

I January 20 : 1680 There was then Layd out to Mr John \^iall of the 
Land aforesaid in Swansey one hundred and fifteen Acres, be it more or 

78 



less in one entire pace, bounded west by certain Market Saplings on the 
Brow of the hill on Cock Poynt neck on the west side of the Run till one 
Comes to the Creek and then by the salt water till one Comes to the Land 
of William Allen to the South till one comes to Annawomscutt brook to 
the East takeing in the one halfe of the said brook all along till one 
Comes near the north East corner and then the whole brook to a birch 
tree marked south and west and thence by the highway to the brow of 
the hill on Cock poynt Neck 

2 May 7: 1682 There was Then Layd out to Mr John Viall 127 
Acres of upland and swamp in Swansey be it more or less bounded south 
(by the way) by the land of Mr John Allen and west by the homestead 
of said Viall According to the severall Angles of the fence made in Capt 
Willetts time till one comes to the North East Corner of the homestead 
devided by said Articles and then it Exstends west to the Northwest 
Corner of said homestead and then North East and by North to Reho- 
both Line and it is then bounded North by said Line till one comes to the 
great highway and is then bounded by said way till one Comes to the 
swamps by Adams playn: and thence by said Swamp or brook till one 
Comes to the swamps by Adams playn: and thence by said Swamp or 
brook till one comes to the south bounds afiforesaid 

3 There was then Also Layd out to said Viall Eaight Acres in Reho- 
both being 20 Rod wide and is bounded South by the aforesaid 127 Acres 
and bounded East by a Lyne Exstending North from the highway to a 
stake and North by mark't trees till one comes to the Browns Land to 
the west 

May 7 : 1682 There was then Layd out to Mr John Viall his halfe 
part of 180 Acres of upland and Swamps in one intire pece In Rehoboth 
being bounded to the East by a higfhway passing through the seaven score 
Rod in which tract of land This 180 Acres Lyes and is bounded North 
by Certain Markt trees standing 20 Rod North of the three Rayle fence 
and bounded west by certain Markt trees in a south and north Range 
and is bounded South by Lyne which passeth through the pine swamp 
where the five Rayle fence was to be set by the Town of Rehoboth (the 
highway here mentioned is that which Lyes on the west side of the Pecks 

79 



Land in the seaven score Rod). To the Truth of these severall devitions 
afferms John Brown senr 
Swansey November 21 : 1682 

And to the Truth of these severall devitions and the date aforesaid 

Affirms Noah Floyd 



3lt 10 A^Vtih by and between Mr Noah Ffloyd and Mr John Viall 
both of Swansey in New England that whereas there hath bin some diffi- 
culty and misunderstanding betwixt us about a devition of Land And that 
whearas there is 132 acres Lyes Commodiously for Mr Viall next to his 
home Lands: wee have Joyntly chosen James Brown Esqr & Mr John 
Allen of the place aforesaid to take so mudh out of sd 132 Acres on the 
south part thereof and a Cartway of to it as may be Adjudged an acommi- 
dation for the said Noah Floyd by them and allowing what quantyty of 
Land for it as they shall think fit out of the said Floyds next Devition 
which is to be in Answer to the said 132 Acres Except the Devition which 
takes in ye halfe of the pine swamp contaning 53 Acres & Rods and so 
Exstending southerly & it is to be understood that this way that is to be 
Left out at the south end of Mr Vialls Land Adjoyning to the north 
side of Mr Aliens Lot to the Great 'highway Eastward is to be two rod 
wide and for publicke use 

Aprill 20 : 1 68 1 Noah Floyde 

^ , T^ witness our hands y , -vr- n 

witnes John Brown John Viall 



Ull|000 Dlag Olftttfi? all persons whome it doth concern that 
Whereas Mr Eliacam Huchenson Marchant and Mr John Viall Vintner of 
Boston in New England did make Joynt purchase of the houses and Lands 
of Capt Thomas Willet deseased, whidh Lands are situate in Rehoboth and 
Swansey in the Collony of New Plymouth and were demed 600 Acres 
more or Lese be it, as by the deed bearing date August 25 : 1679 may 
appear, with the bounds thereof and Mr Noah Floyd appearing on the 
behalfe of said Huchenson to make devition of the premises, they John 

80 



Viall and Noah floyd made Choyce of and Requested me the subscriber 
to be their surveighor in and about said Lands, The Arable Lands were 
devided according to the tenor and true meaning of two instruments 
under there hands one bearing date Apr ill 3 : 1680 : the other date is 
Desember 10 1680 

1 Desember 11: 1680 There was then Layd out to Mr Eliacam 
Huchenson or Assignes of the Lands afforesaid 47 Acres be it more or 
Lese containing Cock poynt neck and the Litle bushie neck Adjoyning, 
the whole being bounded west by the salt water North partly by the 
improved Lands aforesaid partly East by the Land of Mr John Allen 
and partly North by a highway of 8 Rod wide which way Lyes East and 
by South two degrees southerly to the great highway and west and by 
north two degrees Northerly to the water side and on the East by the 
fence and Markt Saplins on the brow of the hill and so down to the Cove 

2 Item, febuary 12: 1680 Layd out to Eliacam Huchenson or his 
Assigns all that part of Land Lying and being bounded North by the 
highway which Lyes East and by south two degrees southerly and west 
and by North two degrees Northerly and East by the great highway south 
by the land of William Allen near his house West by the Midle of Anna- 
womscut brook till it Comes near the North west corner and then leaves 
out the brook and poynt of upland to a birch tree marked which pece of 
Land containes 65 Acres And 3 Acres on Adams his playn and the 47 
Acres before mentioned makes 115 Acres 

May 7. 1682 Layd out to Eliacam Huchenson or his Assignes 7 
Acres and a halfe on Adams playn bounded south (by ye way) by the 
land of John Allen East the highway and Exstends North to the inter- 
section of the way and swamp and west by the swamp and brook 3 Acres 
of this is the Complement of the 115 Acres aforesaid 

Item. May 7, 1682 Layd out to Eliacam Huchenson or Assignes 
120 Acres bounded south by Swansey Line and Mr Vialls 8 Acres west by 
the Land of Mr James Brown and John Brown North by the Lyne of the 
five Rayle fence passing through the pine Swamp on an East and by 
south Lyne East by a highway and Mr Aliens and Mr Payns Land 

81 



May 7, 1682 there was then Layd out to EHacam Huchenson or 
Assignes his halfe part of 180 Acres of upland and Swamp in one intire 
pece in Rehoboth being bounded to the East by Sartain Markt trees 
Ranging North and South through the seaven score Rod and is bounded 
North by Cartain markt trees 20 Rod North of the three Rayle fence and 
bounded west by the Land of James Brown and John Brown South partly 
by the said Browns Land and partly by the North bounds of the aforesaid 
120 Acres 

To the truth of these severall devitions affirms John Brown sur- 
veior Swansey November 21 : 1682 

And to the truth of these severall devitions Affirms John Viall 
and the date afforesaid 

And as for the two ten Acre Lot of Meadow at Broad Cove they are 
thus devided and bounded : viz. — 

Mr John Viall ten Acre Lot is bounded Northerly with Toreys Creek 
west with upland bounded south with a range of stakes and bounded on 
the Easterly End with New Meadow River 

And Mr Eliacam Hucthensons ten Acre Lot is bounded on the south 
partly with the meadow of Joseph Peck and partly with the oake and 
pine poynt mensioned in the 34 page and bounded East with New meadow 
River and North with a Range of stakes and bounded west with upland 
and also a small pece on north side to Toreys Creek As Affirms, John 
Brown sur. — 



t^ataH there was some tracts of Land which were Left in common 
amongst the proprietors of poponomscut and parts Adjacent namely 
that part of land lying between the five Rayle fence of ould time set up 
by the Towne of Rehoboth by Agreement bearing date June 29: 1653: 
And the south Lyne of Rehoboth bounded north by said fence and south 
by said south Line of Rehoboth and West by a seaventy 5 Acrre divition 
of Land which was Capt Thomas Willett but now of Right in the posses- 
tion of Mr James Brown and John Brown and East upon ye Meadows 
Lying on Swansey River Runing up to Bowens bridge. And one 

82 



Eaighty Acree Lott of upland Lying in Swansey Num. 13 And also two 
home Lots number nine and ten in said Swansey 

And whearas the aforesaid comman Lands were formerly devided 
to severall of the Community and yet no Record thereof hath bin made, 
now wee the proprietors of the said Lands at a meting at Rehoboth this 
15 day of Aprill 1684 doe allow of, Rattify and conferm these following 
devitions to be Just according to true meaning that so a Legall Record 
thereof may be made 

Imprimis between the said five Rayle fence and Swansey Line the 
first devition from ye said seaventy five Acres Exstends East to a carten 
range of marked trees Ranging North and South passing through said 
tract of Land and through a small part of the pine swamp which sd devi- 
tion belongs to Mr James Brown and John Brown 

2 From the said Range of marked trees Eastward Lyeth a Cartain 
tract of land takeing in all the Pine swamp south of the Line of the said 
fence to a highway to the East of it Adjoyning and at the South East 
corner of the said swamp it Exstends to the East of a litle pond or velley 
to a white oak tree marked and thence (by said way) on a south Line to 
the south bounds of Rehoboth to a marked young tree which devition 
belonged to Capt Thomas willett as per page 53 

3 One Devition of Land pertaning to Mr John Allen being about 
Twenty seaven Acres being bounded North by the Lyne of the five Rayle 
fence and East by the highway which passeth by the Meadows and by a 
dead tree to the north of the Run and at the south west corner by a Red 
oake tree and west by the way by the pine Swamp 

4 One Devition of Land which pertaned to Mr Stephen Pain Senr 
and is bounded North by the aforesaid Devition of Mr John Allen and 
East by the highway and south by a highway and west by a way 

5 One Devition which pertaned to Mr Stephen Pain snr. bounded 
south by the south bounds of Rehoboth and East by the Meadows, North 
by Capt Hunts upland, and the Swamp (in contrivercy as to a watring 

place,) and west by the highway 

6 One Devition which pertaneth to Capt Peter Hunt Called Hunts 
neck layd out for ten Acres, and is bounded East by his own Meadow 



83 



and South by Mr Paines Land and upon the west the Swamps and North 

7 One Devition which pertaned to Mr Stephen Pain Sner bounded 
South by the South Line of Rehoboth and East by the highway to the 
trees formerly marked and west by a highway of Eaight Rod wide which 
Runs from the head of the home Lotts and North by his own Land 

8 One Devition which pertaned to Nathaniell Peck and Israeli Peck 
Containing ten Acres is bounded South by the South Line of Rehoboth 
East by Mr Paines Land and North by Mr Pains Land and west by the 
way by the second devition of said lands 

9 One devition which pertaned to Mr Stephen Pain Sener bounded 
South by the South Lyne of Rehoboth and by the Land of Natha: and 
Israeli Peck and Northerly by the highway and westerly by the way in 
the aforesaid second devition his Complement was made upin New 
Meadow Neck 

10 One devition Layd out in the aforesaid home Lotts number Nine 
& Ten to Thomas Chafey being ten Acres or thereabouts Called Ricees 
Neck Bounded North by said Chafeys home Lott East the Meadow 
south by Mr Aliens M^eadow and west by Mr Aliens Land 

11 The Remaining part of the said home Lots fell by devition to 
Capt Peter Hunt and Mr John Allen viz 

12 The north part to said Allen and south part to Capt Hunt and 
now all in possestion of said Mr John Allen 

1 And as for the Common Lot Number 13 it is thus devided 
Imprimis to Nathaniell and Israel Peck thirty seaven Acrees more or 

less and is bounded west by the highway North by the Land of Thomas 
Chafey, East by the Land of Tho : Chafey now in the possestion of John 
Medberry and by the Land of Ensign Smith now in possestion of John 
Butterworth and by the Land of Phillip Walker now in possestion of 
Abraham Perren and by the Land of Samuell Newman and South by the 
Longe Lott 

2 Item, to Mr Samuell Newman twelve Acres and halfe and is 
bounded East by a highway south the Long Lot west the pecks Land 
aforesd and north by the Land of John Butterworth and Abra'ham Perren 

3 To John Butterworth and Abraham Perren twelve Acres and halfe 

84 



and is bounded East by a highway, south by the land of Samuell New- 
man, west the said Pecks Land and North the Land of Thomas Chafey 
now in possetion of Joihn Medberry 

4 To John Medberry in the Right of Thomas Chafey twenty five 
Acres and is bounded East by the highway, south by the Land of John 
Butterworth and Abraham Perren west by the Peck's Land and North 
by the land of Thomas Chafey 

To the truth of these severall devitions afferms 
John Allen Peter Hunt 

Sam: Newman John Butterworth 

Stephen Pain Abraham Perrin 

Israeli Peck Joseph Chafey 



Arttrl^a of Agr^Fm^nt made and concluded by and between 
James Brown Ser and Capt John Brown both of Swansey in the Collony 
of New Plymouth concerning the devideing their whole farme of upland 
and Swamps as it is sittuate in the said Swansey and Rehoboth being one 
intire peice, To the end that peace and a good understanding may be 
continued Betwixt them and the heirs and assignes of them for Ever 

Imprimis By Mutual Consent the said James Brown his heires and 
Assignes is to 'have and enjoy for ever all that Tract of Land being 
Partly in Rehoboth but Mostly in Swansey being bounded at the North- 
west corner at ye water side by a heap of stones, To the south of a Long 
Run of water or water course to ye north of the Island of Rocks and 
thence exstends Southward by the Bay or salt River to the bottom of 
the neck And is bounded Eastterly by the Cove Runing up by the North 
East branch takeing in the Litle Neck (the burying place only Reserved 
in Common) and from the North east Cove on the East of the Run of 
water bounded by Land in the Possession of Noah Floyd to the northward 
of the head of the said Run of water and then it exstends westerly, being 
bounded by Capt Browns Eaight acres, a black oak and white oake tree 
standing in the range and Exstends still westerly through the orchard 
as it is now fenced, A Litle south of great pear tree and thence northerly 

85 



on the East side the brook near unto John Browns Spring as the fence 
now stands then westerly over the water brook up the hill and thence 
Northerly as the fence now stands to a Litle Run of water and by that 
run as now fenced westward and then North Easterly again as now 
fenced and from said fence it Exstends still North Easterly alonge in 
Rehoboth on the top of the Long hill or Ridge by severall Marked trees 
till it comes to a great white oak marked by two more white oakes and 
then exstends westerly by severall marked trees to the aforesaid heap of 
stones by the water side; the said James Brown his heirs and assignes 
to have and injoy all the priveledg and appurtenances within the bounds 
aforesaid for ever 

^I^rnttJbl^ by mutuall consent the said John Brown his heirs and 
Assignes is to have Enjoy for Ever all that tract of Land Lying and 
being partly in Swansey but mostly in Rehoboth being bounded at the 
Southwest Corner by ye waterside by the aforesaid heap of stones South- 
ward of the Long Run or watercourse and thence Exstend Eastwardly 
by the Rang of marked trees to a great white oake Marked and two 
white oakes standing close by it on the Top of the Long hill or Ridge 
aforesaid and thence Exstends Southwesterly all along the top of the 
said hill by marked trees, to the fence near Swansey Line & thence by the 
fence as it now stands to the Litle run Runing Eastward in Swansey and 
then Eastwardly by the fence and Run and then Southwardly on the west 
side the brook as the fence now stands and then Exstends Eastwardly 
from the top of the hill by the fence to the East Side the brook and then 
by the fence Southwardly to the south of the great pare tree and then 
Eastwardly through the orchard by the fence, thence still Eastwardly by 
the fence of the Eaight Acres and the white oake and black oak Tree till 
it Comes to the barn field in the possession of Noah Floyd thence It 
exstends Northerly by the fence and rang of Saplins to the North East 
corner of the Eaight Acres, thence it Exstends north north East to a black 
oak tree marked two sides and thence west and by North by the fence 
through the pond to the North East Corner of the said John Brown's 
great field and thence North and by East by Marked trees to a stake in 
the range of the five Rayle fence and thence East and by south by the 

86 



Range of the said fence to a Corner tree marked, and thence Northerly 
by Land in the possession of Noah Floyd as the trees are marked till it 
Extends twenty Rods to the North of the Seaven score Rod or the three 
Rayle fence to a stake marked and thence it exstends west and by North 
two degrees Northwardly by a range of Marked trees to the salt water 
or bay on the North side of the Cove and thence is bounded on the salt 
water on the west side till it Comes to the aforesaid heap of stones at Mr 
Browns North west Corner, the said John Brown his heirs and Assignes 
to have and Enjoy all the priviledges and appurtenances within the bounds 
aforesaid for ever 

Slljtt&l^ by Mutuall Consent ye aforesaid James Brown his heirs 
and Assignes is to have and Enjoy for ever all that tract of Land being 
partly in Swansey but mostly in Rehoboth being bounded on the south by 
the barn field now in the possestion of Noah Floyd & East by the land 
of John Viall till it comes to Rehoboth bounds and then exstends East- 
wards to a Marked tree in the Swamp in the Line of Rehoboth and Swan- 
sey and thence Exstends North by Marked trees Taking in A Litle of the 
pine Swamp till it Comes to the Range of the five Rayl fence and then 
Exstends West and by North to John Browns Land to the stake afore- 
said and thence it Exstends South and by west to the North East Corner 
of John Browns great field and thence East wardly till it coms to a 
marked tree to the North East of Halls pasture and thence on a straight 
Line to John Browns Eaight Acres the said James Brown his heirs and 
Assignes to have and Enjoy all the priviledges and appurtenances 
within the bounds aforesaid 

^OUrtl|ly; it is agreed and concluded by the said James Brown and 
John Brown that from time to time and at all times, nessesary ways by 
gates or Bars shall be Allowed to each of them 

In witness whearof the said James Brown & John Brown have put 
to their hands and seals this second day of febuary one thousand six 
hundred Eaighty four 
Sined Sealed in the presence of us 

Nathaniell Brown James Brown 

Sarah Jenckes John Brown 

87 



An ArrOUttt of the devition of the upland and Meadow which 
belongeth to James Brown Esquier and Capt John Brown as it Lyeth at 
Nayot and Moscachuck In Swansey it is thus devided at 

Nayot 

1 Layd out and devided to John Brown one halfe of the upland and 
Swamps bounded Easterly by the land of Mr John Saffin Northerly by the 
Meadow and Creek and Southerly the Meadow & it exstends west to the 
west of Jethrowes Cellar and bounded at the Meadow Side by a marked 
saplin and thence on a North poynt by a fly compas by marked saplins to 
Moscadhuck Creek which runeth up North (a litle west of said Creek) 

2 Layd out and devided to the said James Brown the other halfe 
of upland being bounded on the east by the said Range of saplins and on 
the north by the Creek, west by the bay and bounded South by the bay 
and Meadow 

See page 69 

3 Layd out and devided to John Brown one parcell of Meadow 
bounded South with the bay and East by the Meadow of Samll Newman 
North by his own upland and west by a range of stakes 

4 Layd out and devided to Mr James Brown one parcell of Meadow 
bounded south with the bay and East with the said Range of stakes 
North with the upland of John Brown and west by a Range of stakes 
by the well or dining place 

5 Layd out and devided to John Brown one parcell of Meadow 
bounded south by the bay and East by said Range of stakes North by his 
own upland and bounded west by a Marked saplin and Range of stakes 
down to the Creek or bite in the Meadow 

6 Layd out and devided to Mr James Brown one parcell of Meadow 
bounded south by the bay : East by the said Range of stake and Marked 
Saplin North partly b'y the upland of John Brown but mostly by his own 
and bounded west with his own upland 

The Meadow and upland at Moscachuck is thus devided 

7 Layd out and devided to Mr James Brown all that upland and 
Meadow bounded east by the Land of John Saffin as now fenced and at 
the north East Corner by a marked birch saplin and bounded North by 

83 



a Range of Marked saplins Ranging west and by North till it Comes 
Near the hole of Meadow and then by Marked saplins arching Southward 
to the Meadow and then bounded by the Creek which Runeth to the 
hole of Meadow bounded west by the Creek and south by the Creek till 
it Conies to Toms spring and then it goeth over the Creek and takeeth 
in all the Meadow and Land abutting upon the Land of John Saffin To 
the south 

8 Layd out and devided to John Brown all that upland and Meadow 
bounded at the South East Corner by the said Marked birch bounded 
south by a marked saplin Ranging west and by North till it Comes near 
the hole of Meadow and then by Marked saplins arching southwards till 
it comes to the Meadow then bounded southerly by the Creek which Run- 
eth up to the side hole of Meadow and then bounded west by the Creek 
to the head thereof and bounded North by the Long Lot and bounded 
East by the Land of John Saffin and also layd out to the said John Brown 
all that pece of Meadow Lying on Nayot side being bounded South by 
his own upland west by Mr Browns Land North by the Creek up to 
Toms spring and East by his own Land 

These severall devitions of upland and Meadow by mutuall Consent 
as here devided to be houlden and quietly Enjoyed by the said James 
Brown and John Brown their heirs and Assignes for ever and Also it is 
by the said partyes Concluded and Agreed that from time to time and at 
all times for ever hereafter that Convenient and Nessessary wayes 
through said Land by gates or bars to Each party their heirs and Assignes 
shall be alowed In witnes of the premises the said James Brown and 
John Brown have hereunto set their hands and seals this 25 of July 1685 
Sined and sealled 

m the presence of us witnesses viz James Brown 

Samuell Mason John Brown 

John Fitch 



^tYt firnU0?tI][ llj? lpmam«9 pnvt of the severall devitions of 
Land belonging to the Communyty of Proprietors of the Land of popa- 



89 



uomscut and parts Ajacent, The Land already Entred in page 49 and to 
page 63 being hereby allowed and Confermed to be good and Authentick 

Imprimis ffrom Rehoboth Line at the head of the home Lots from 
an ould tree formerly marked standing in the field now in the occupation 
of Daniell Sheperson is a highway of Eaight Rod wide westerly from 
said tree which said way Runeth South thirteen degrees west to a white 
oake tree on the South Side of the pine swamp and thence it Lyeth south 
four degrees thirty minets west to the north west corner of Joseph 
Chafeyes home Lot it being well marked next the home Lots then the 
way Runs south about three degrees west till it Comes as far southerly 
as the great white oake tree commonly called Capt Hunts tree the way 
being Eaight Rod between said tree and this Course and then the way 
Exstendeth itselfe down to a Lot formerly Capt Standiges Lot south 
about 12° west by severall ould and new marks on the west side of the 
way especially 

The severall Home Lots Lying on the East side and abutting on this 
highway are bounded as ffolloeth 

The ffirst Lot origeonally pertaned to Thomas Prince the north halfe 
whearof now belongs to Nathaniell and Benjamin Pain (Rehoboth) and 
is bounded on the north with Rehoboth Line, bounded west with the said 
highway, at the south west with a stake and is bounded down by severall 
marks to the Meadow on the south side of this north halfe and at the 
south east Corner with a stake the small trench at the meadow this north 
halfe being about ten Acres 

The south part of this Lot of Princes from the bounds aforesaid 
togeather with three house Lots contaning about twenty Acres each 
which did origeonally belong to Mr William Bradford, Tho. Clark and 
Capt Thomas Willett but now belongs to Mr John Allen being bounded 
on the north by the bounds aforesaid bounded on the west with said high- 
way, bounded at the South west Corner with a stake marked & thence 
by severall marks on an East 13° south Course to the south East Corner 
and there bounded with a stake & heap of stones & bounded on the East 
with a highway which Runeth up as it is now fenced to Rehoboth Line 

The next house Lot origionally was John Winslows being about 

90 



Twenty Acres but now belongs to John Pain and is bounded on the East 
with the highway and bounded on the north with the former bounds and 
bounded on the west with the highway at the head of the home Lots, and 
bounded at the south west Garner with a stake and stones about it & 
Trench and bounded on the south with severall marks from the said way 
on an East 13° South Course to the south East Corner and there bounded 
with a stake trench and stones 

The next house Lot about twenty Acres was origeonally John Adams 
but now belongs to Israeli Peck and the heirs of Nathaniell Peck and is 
bounded on the north with the bounds of the former Lot (viz) at the 
north East of this Lot with a stake stone, & trench and bounded at the 
north west corner with a stake stone and trench and on the west with a 
highway and bounded at the south west Corner with a stake trench and 
stone, bounded on the south with severall markes Course is East 13° south 
to the south East Corner there bounded with a stake and trench and 
bounded East with a highway Next unto this Lot at the south East 
Corner Lyeth one Acre of Land be it more or Les sould by John Pain 
to Israeli Peck bounded south north and west as it is now fenced and 
bounded north by the line of the aforesaid Lot 

The Next house Lot of about thirty Acres was first Josiah Winslows 
and Lyeth on the same course or poynt as the former Lots and is bounded 
north East with the foresaid Acre of Land bounded north with the Pecks 
Lot bounded at the northwest Corner with a stake trench and stone 
bounded west with the highway bounded at the southwest Corner with a 
stake trench and stone bounded south with a highway of 4 rod wide next 
the said way at the head of the home Lots and Exstendsth down to 
Thomas Barnes'es to a white oke about 6 rod is the way on this place, 
thence to a black oke nere the bridge by Joseph Chafey's here about 9 rod 
wide thene the way exstendeth about East north East to the water side 
by severall markes about 5 rod wide bounded East by the former highway 
this Lot pertains to Tho: Barnes and John Pain there is also a part of 
this Lot Lying between the highway salt water and Joseph Chafeys 
meadow up to the bridge 

91 



The next Lot origeonally Resolved Whites being about 30 Acres but 
now belongeth to Joseph Chaffey is bounded East with his own Meadow 
North from the bridge by the highway and at the north west corner 
with a great tree marked bounded west with the highway bounded at the 
South west corner at a stake trench and stones and thence by severall 
marks East 13° south Course, to the South East Corner by the said 
Meadow 

The two next Lots pertaned origeonally to Exsperience Michel and 
Mr Cushman the East part whearof called Rices neck as it is fenced 
pertaneth to Joseph Chafey as by former Rec'd. and the west part of the 
said two Lots now pertaneth to Mr John Allen and is bounded at the 
north East Corner with a stake and a trench by the fence bounded at the 
north by the aforesaid Lot bounded at the north corner with a stake, 
trench and stones, and bounded at the south west corner with a stake, 
trench, and stones and bounded on the south side with a range of marks 
on an East 13° south Course to the salt water 

The next Lot Capt Standiges origeonally about 20 Acres but now 
belongeth to John Medbury and John Allen Junier the west part whearof 
belongeth to John Medbury and is thus bounded, on the west with the 
highway at the north west corner with a stake trench and stones at 
the South west Corner with a stake trench and stones bounded on the 
South by a range of marks on an East 13° south course to the fence of 
said John Allen and bounded east by said fence and bounded on the north 
East up to the Litle run by the way and common and from the said Litle 
Run the way is by said Medbury's fence 2 rod wide up to Mr Aliens 
Land and the same width is the way through. Mr Aliens Land on the 
brow of the hill next ye swamp up to the highway by Thomas Barnes, 
There remaines also a small pece of Land to said Medbury on the east 
side the way against his house bounded northerly with Mr Aliens Land 
Easterly Mr Allen dich southerly the Litle run 

The remaning part of this Lot belongeth to John Allen Junier being 
bounded west with the land of John Medbury south with the Land of 
the heirs of John Dixsey and East and north with a highway as it now 
Lyes unfenced up to Medbury's Land to the Run, from ye gate at the 
Land of the heirs of John Dixsey 

92 



One great Lot Laid out for 80 Acre origeonally pertaned to Thomas 
Clark and now belongeth to the heirs of John Dixsey and is bounded to 
the salt water Easterly and Northerly by the La'nd of John Allen Junier 
and the Land of John Medbury bounded at the north west corner with 
a stake trench and stones bounded west with the highway and bounded 
at the south west corner with a stake 8 rode East 13° south from a tree 
marked 13 and bounded on the south by severall markes on an East 13° 
South Course down to the salt water 

The next Great Lot origeonally pertaned to Mr Tho: Cushman but 
now belongeth to Mr Andrew Willet and is bounded on the north with 
the former Lot and at the North west corner with a stake 8 rod from the 
tree marked 13 bounded west with the highway bounded at the southwest 
Corner with a stake and bounded on the south with the Longe Lot with 
severall Marks on an East 14° south Course to the south East Corner 
to a white oake tree marked and bounded on the Ea'st with a Range of 
Marked trees from said white oke tree Ra'ngeing north I5d-30m East to 
a way out of this Lot to the salt water 

The next Lot origeonally Mr Cushmans but now Capt Anthony 
Lowe's bounded north with ye way belonging to Mr Willets and bounded 
west with Mr Willets lott and bounded south with the Longe Line and 
bounded East with the salt water there is a highway from ye former 
gate to & through this lot to our former highway according as it is now 
Layd out and improved 

One Great Lot formerly Resolved Whites & now belongeth to Joseph 
Chaff ey & is bounded at the South East Corner with a Tree marked 13 
bounded on the south by a Range of Trees marked on a west 13d north 
Course bounded on the west with a highway bounded at the north west 
Corner with a stake Trench and stones and from said stake bounded on 
the North by Markes Ranging East 13° south to a white oake tree marked 
Called Capt Hunts Tree & bounded on the East with a highway at the 
head of the home Lotts 

One Great Lot formerly John Winslows but now of Late purchased 
of Stephen Pain senr; by William Allen and it is bounded East with a 

93 



highway Eaight Rod wide, south with the Long Lot & salt water west 
with the salt water and North with Land Pertaining to John Viall and 
Noah Floyd 

One Great Lot Called the Longe Lot being bounded East with a Lot 
formerly to Tho : Cushman but now to Anthony Low bounded north with 
the Lots numbered 19:12 and 9 bounded west the salt water bounded 
south with ye Lot number 1 1 and by ye Longe Line this Lot is numbered 
to one third part whereof belongs to Wm Allen heirs being ye west part, 
the other two thirds to Anthony Low and is bounded betwixt them with 
a walnut stake set by Anthony Low and John Brown October 11 : 1688 

One Great Lott formerly Josiah Winslows now belonging to Thomas 
Barns is bounded at the south East Corner a' white oake tree Called Capt 
Hunt Corner and bounded south with Joseph Chafeys great Lot bounded 
at the south west Corner with a stake trench and stones bounded west with 
a highway, bounded at the north west corner with a stake, trench and 
stones ; bounded on the north with a highway 8 rod wide ; said Lott is 
bounded at the north East Corner with a stake, trench and stones and 
bounded on the East with a highway 

One Great Lott fformerly Josiah Winslow now belonging to John 
Pain is bounded at the south East Corner with a stake, trench and stones, 
bounded south with a highway of 8 rod wide staked out, bounded at the 
southwest Corner with a stake trench and stones bounded west with a 
highway 8 rod wide bounded at the north west Corner with a walnut tree, 
thence by severall marks East 13° south to North East Corner & there 
bounded with a stake, trench and stones bounded East with a highway 
8 rod wide 

One Great Lot fformerly John Adams now belonging to Israeli Peck 
Peck and the heirs of Nathaniel! Peck bounded at the south west Corner 
with a wallnut tree, then East 13° south to the south East corner, then 
bounded with a stake trench and stones, bounded East with a high way 
bounded at the north East corner with a tree marked and thence by sev- 
erall marks west 13° north to the west highway in the pine Swamp, and 
bounded west with the said highway 

94 



One Great Lot fformerly William Bradfords now belonging to Israeli 
Peck and the heirs of Nathatiiell Peck and to Joseph Kent and is bounded 
at the South East Corner with a tree marked, bounded East with a high- 
way at the head of the home Lots bounded at the north East Corner with 
the Entersection of the said highway and Rehoboth Lyne, bounded on the 
North with Rehoboth Line and bounded on the west with the highway of 
8 rod wide which Runeth from Rehoboth Lyne down to a'nd through the 
Longe Lot 

One Great Lot formerly John Adams Lying on the west side the 
highway by the scooll house, which Lot the most and East part thereof 
now belongs to Mr John Allen and his part is bounded at the north East 
Corner with a young saplin marked and bounded north by a range of 
marks west 13° North to a state and bounded on the East with said 
highway, bounded at the South East Corner with a stake trench and stone 
bounded south with a highway 8 rod wide, on a west 13° north Course 
to the Maine Cove, but Mr Aliens Land Exstendeth not to the Cove but 
to a stake at the south west Corner with a trench by it 

These severall Lots have bin Carefully serched out together with the 
highways there to belonging and stated by us whow were by the Commu- 
nity chosen a Committee for that end May 23 : 1687 

John Allen ^ 

John Brown >- Committe 

Noah Floyd J 



■ the Community of Proprietors doe acknowledge the great Care 
of the Committe in serching out and stating the severall divitions and 
highways before Entred and we doe to our utmost power Conferme the 
same a's witnes our hands 

Anthony Low Israeli Peck 

Tho : Barnes Joseph Chafey 



_4^ara0 Mr James Brown and Capt John Brown both of Swansey 
in the County of Bristoll on the 25 of July 1685 made Devition of their 
Lands and Meadowes which they held formerly in Joynt Partnership 



95 



betwixt them at Nayot in said SwaTisey Exsepting the Creek thach beds 
and sedge beds Lying on the north part of the said Mr James Browns 
upland and the Northerly beach of Nayot Lying on the Southerly and 
westerly side of Moscachuck Creek in said Swansey with the Thach and 
Thach beds to apertaning but held and Improved the same in Joynt 
partnership And the said Mr James Brown Sometime after vested his 
sone Mr James Brown Jnr withall his Rights in said Nayot And Then 
the said John Brown and James Brown Junior held and improved the 
said Beach Thach beds Creek thach sedge and its Apurtenances in 
partnership undevided till the 15th day of September 1708 and then Thus 
devided it To say that the said James Brown Jnr his heirs and Assignes 
shall hould and forever Enjoy all that Thach Sedge and Soyll lying 
between Moscachuck Creek and his own upland till it Comes to the 
Southermost Wading place to said beach at the Southermost End of Mr 
Thomas Aliens Southermost Neck 

And that the said John Brown his heirs and Assines shall hould and 
forever In joy all the Remaning beach and Thach sedge and soyll Lying 
to the Northward of said wading place between Moscachuck Creek and 
the bay and a Convenient direct way to his farm at Nayot from and to 
the same as witnes their hands this 11 of October 1708 
In the presence of us witnesses 

Samuell Brown John Brown 

Lydia Balkcome James Brown Jr 



So all OIljn0tta« P^Opb to whom this present deed of sale shall 
Come. 

William Ingraham of Swanzey in the County of Bristoll in the prov- 
ince of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Cooper and Mary his 
now wife, send Greeting 

Know yee that the said William Ingraham for and in consideration 
of the sume of thirty pounds Current mony of New England to him in 
hand paid at and before the Ensealing and delivery of these presents 
By Thomas Guinn Marriner and Benjamin Pemberton Tinplate worker, 

96 



both of Boston in the province aflforesaid the Receipt whereof the said 
William Ingraham doth hereby Acknowledge and himselfe therewith 
fully sattisfied and contented and thereof and of Every part thereof doth 
hereby Exonerate, and discharge the sd. Thomas Guin and Benjamin 
Pemberton and their heirs, executors and Administrators and every of 
them forever by these presents hath freely and absolutely Given granted 
Barganed sould Enfeofed and Confermed and Doth by these presents, 
give grant, bargen sell, Enfeof and conferm unto the said Thomas Guin 
and Benjamin Pemberton their heirs and Assignes forever the whole of 
an Island situate in the Township of Swanzey aforesaid being Salt Marsh 
and known by the name of Ingraham Island which said Island the above 
said William Ingraham formerly purchased of his father Richard Ingra- 
ham desesed With all and singular the Timber wood under wood, stone, 
Mines, menneralls waters feedings gras profits Commodity's Immunitys 
and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in a'ny wise 
apertaning unto the said Thomas Guin & Benjamin Pemberton them and 
their heirs and Assignes forever. To have and to Hould all the above 
said Island with the Revertion and revertion Remainder and Remainders 
To them the sd. Thomas Guin and Benjamin Pemberton their heirs and 
Assignes forever And the William Ingraham doth hereby Covenant 
promis and graunt to and with the said Thomas Guin and Benjamin Pem- 
berton their heirs and Assigns that at the time of this bargen and sale 
and untill the delivery of these presents he the said William Ingraham 
is the true and Lawfull owner of all the above said premises and is Law- 
fully seized of and in the same & that he hath in himself good Right and 
Lawfull Authority to give, graunt, bargen, sell Conveigh and Assure the 
same unto the said Thomas Guin and Benjamin Pemberton their heirs 
and Assignes forever as a good perfect and absolute estate of Inheritance 
in fee simple according to the free Tenor of their Majestyes Mannor of 
East Greenwich in the County of Kent within the Realm of England in 
free and common soecage and not in Capetie and Knights servis But 
without any manner of Condition, Revertion, title, dower, or Limmeta- 
tion or Limmetation of useges so as to alter, change, defeat or make void 
the same And that the said Thomas Guin and Benjamin Pemberton their 

97 



heirs and Assignes shall and may by force and vertue of these presents 
from time to time and at all times hereafter Lawfully peaceably and 
quietly hould, use, occupye posses and enjoy all the above said Demised 
premises without any Let sute Trouble deniall, Interruption or Contra- 
diction of him the said Wiliam Ingraham his heirs or Assignes And 
thereof free and Clear and Clearly acquited and discharged of and from 
all and all maner of former and other gifts, graunts, Bargens, sales, 
leases Mortgages, Joyntures, dowers. Judgments, Intayles, Executions, 
Exstents and of and from all other troubles or Incumbrances, whatso- 
ever, had made or done or suffered to be done by him the said William 
Ingraham his heirs or assignes In Witness whearof the said William 
Ingraham and Mary his wife have hereunto set their hands and sealls 
the seaventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand six 
hundred ninety and Tihree and in the fifth year of their Majesties Reign 
sealed and delivered in the presence of William Ingraham 

John Allen The mark (III) of 

Richard Smith Mary Ingraham 

Wm Ingraham Appeared and Mary his wife ye 17 of May 1693 
before me the subscriber one of the Councell & Justice of ye Peace and 
acknowledged this Instrument to be their act and deed 

John Walley 

January the Third 1698-9 Then Agreed by Israeli Peck and 
Nathaniell Peck the sone of Nathaniell Peck deseeced for the deviding of 
their Eighty Acre Lot on Addames his plain, viz ; That the said Lot 
being devided this day by Capt John Brown into Two Equall parts and 
the deviding Lyne being well marked by severall markt trees, the south 
part to belonge to the said Israeli Peck his heirs and Assignes forever 

And the north part is to belonge to the said Nathaniell Peck his 
heirs and Assignes forever And it is further Agreed by and between 
the said partyes that the said Israeli Peck his heirs and Assignes shall 
forever have and Enjoy all that Thirty seaven Acres Lot Lying near 
unto the house of Thomas Allen which Lot was part of the Common 
Lot 



And in consideration thereof the said Nathaniell Peck his heirs and 
Assignes shall forever have and Enjoy all that forty Acres Lott belonging 
to the said Pecks Runing through the pine swamp which Lot was 
origeonally Mr Bradfords and also all that five Acre Lot Adjoyning to 
the Land of Nathaniell Pain And this our Agreement we Request the 
said Capt Brown to Record in the booke of Records belonging to the 
Community of proprietors of the Lands of Popanomscut and parts 
Adjacent, In witness whearof wee have hereunto Set our hands the day 
and year above written 
Sined in the presence of us witnesses 

Daniell Allen Jonathan Viall Israeli Peck 

Samuell Peck Nathaniell Peck 



I And Jan : the 26 : and 28 dayes 1698 then devided by Israeli Peck 
and Nathaniell Peck their Remaining Land and Meadowes in part- 
nership, viz ; one Lot of Land Lying near unto a place Called Rumstick 
the Lot Lying on the west side the way that Leadeth down the midst 
of the neck said Lot is bounded on the East with said way, on the north 
with ye Land of John Safhn Esqr. on the west with salt water on the 
south with the Land of sd Saffin and said lot being devided by a range 
of Mrkt Saplins from said way to the salt water, the north side of 
said lot belongs to Israeli Peck his heirs and Assignes foiever And 
the south side or halfe part belongs to Nathaniell Peck his heirs and 
Assignes forever 

2ly One Lot of Meadow Lying at Rumstick being bounded at the 
north with the fence as now fenced on the East with the Meadow of 
Daniell Allen to south the salt water on the west the Meadow of Mr, 
Samuell Low, This Lot of Meadow is devided by a range of stakes from 
the upland to the beach Southerly the East part is to belong and apper- 
tain to Israeli Peck his heirs and Assignes for Ever, And the west part 
of said lot is to belong and appertain unto Nathaniell Peck his heirs 
and Assignes for ever 

99 



3ly One Lot of Meadow Lying at Rumstick Chachapeceset neck 
bounded west with the fence, south the Meadow of Daniell Allen, East 
the salt water north the meadow of John Saffin Esqr. said Lot being 
devided by a range of stakes, to a salt pond in the Meadow, Easterly 
The South part belongs to Nathaniell Peck his heirs and Assignes for- 
ever And the north part belongs to Israeli Peck his heirs and Assignes 
forever 

4ly One Lot of Meadow Lying at a place known by the name of 
Scamscammuck bounded South with the Meadow of Daniell Allen to 
the west with Certain Marked trees and Saplins to north the spring to 
the East the Creek; This lot is devided as it is now fenced and be a 
marked walnut saplin & a stake from the upland to said Creek easterly 
The north part of said Lot belongs to Israeli Peck his heirs and Assignes 
for ever. And the south part of said Lot belongeth to Nathaniell Peck 
his hiers and Assignes for ever. 

5ly One Lot that Lyeth a little more northerly bounded west the 
upland north the upland East marked trees South a Litle Creek; this 
Lot is devided by a Range of stakes from the upland to the Creek south- 
erly the west part of sd. Lot belongeth to Israeli Peck his heirs and 
Assignes for Ever. And the East part of said Lot belongeth to Nathaniell 
Peck his heirs and Assignes for Ever 

61y The Lot of Meadow lying at a place known and called by 
the name of Longe beach bounded on the north as it is now fenced, 
East by said fence, South to the beach to the west the Meadow of 
Deacon Newman, this lot is devided by a range of stakes from the upland 
to the beach southerly the East part of said Lot is to belonge to Israeli 
Peck his heirs and Assignes forever And the west part of said lot is 
to belonge to Nathaniell Peck his heirs and Assignes forever 

7ly The house or home Lot devided by a range of Marked Trees 
and Saplins and stakes from the highway at the East to the highway 
at the west, the south part of this Lot belongeth to Israeli Peck his 
heirs and Assignes forever And the north part of said Lot belongeth 
to Nathaniel Peck and his heirs and Assignes for ever In witness whear- 



of the said Israeli Peck and Nathaneill Peck have hereunto all the sev- 

eralls set to their hands Jan : 28 1698 

Witness 

Bamfield Capron Israeli Peck 

Daniell Allen Nathaniell Peck 



The Lands of Nathaniell & Israeli Peck; in the seavenscore Rod 
in Wachamokt neck in Rehoboth 

One forty Acre Lot be it more or Les bounded northerly with the 
Line of the sevenscore Rod, bounded west with a highway passing to the 
east end of the pine swamp south with a highway betwixt said Lot and 
Land Laid out to Mr. John Allen next to the Line of the five Rayl fence 
bounded East with a highway betwixt said Lot and Land Laid out to 
Capt Peter Hunt in said Seaven score Rod 

In Come Plyence to the Warrent for the Meting of the Community 
of Febes neck In swansey we the said Community met on the thirtyeth 
day of august 1710 and Chose Benjamin Viall to be our Clarke to keep 
the Booke of the Community aforesaid we allso Chose Capt Samuell Low 
and Samuell Brown to see him Sworne and to deliver him the Booke 
Benjamin Viall personally appearing before Daniell Allen 

me one of his majestyes Justics of the John pain 

peace for the County of Bristoll this 29th Israeli Peck 

of November 17 10 and took his oath to Nathaniel Peck 

the discharge of the above office of a Cleark Joseph Chafe 

whereunto he is Chosen Jonathan Viall 

Nathaniel Paine Samuell Low 

Samuell 'Brown 
Nathaniel Pain 



At a fCamfuU marn^li nnh full mtttmg, of the Proprietors of Phebes 
Neck in Swansey on Aprel the ninth one thousen Seaven Hundred 
and elavene It was then agreed by the Maore Part of said Comunity 
that the highway that Runs to the west side of hides hole on a west 
poynt four Rods wide and from thence South downe towards the Beach 



Eaighteen Chaines the same breadth aforesaid and from thence to the 
Pecks meadow At the Longe Beach We the Proprietors Aforesaid do 
give our consent that it shall be maid a drift wave by hanging of two 
gates for the Banitit of Capt Samnell Low and son to Remain for ever 
In witness whereof we have hereunto sett our Hands the day and year 
above written 

Samuell Lowe Ebenezer Allen 

Daniell Allen Zachariah Bicknell 

Simon Davis Nathaniell Peck 

John Allen John Chafe 

Thomas Turner James Smith 

Benjamin A'iall Joseph ChafTe 

L«;raell Peck Jonathan Viall 

Josiah Turner Ebeneser Tiffene 

Samuell Humphry 

HHirrcaS Capt Sanmell Low Mr James Addams ^Nlr. William Corbe 
sen and Mr. Obadiah Bettes all of Swansey Held Certain Lots of Land 
Which did formerly Belong to Mr John Allen Sen. and the Pecks Which 
Lots of Land Lyes at Febes Neck in Swansey But ware at a los to 
find the former Bound Between Said Lots of Land, But on January 
the seacond one thousand seaven hundred and fiveteene they Came to 
this Agreement that the Line Between said Lots of Land should Begin 
north at A stake and stones and so run South to the end of said lots 
this North Bounds Between them is the Northeast Corner of Pecks Lot 
and the Northwest Corner of Aliens Lot 



Wher as Mr. James Addams and Mr. \\'illiam Corbe Both of 
Swansey held certain Lands on Febes Neck in said Swansey But ware 
at a Loss to find the former Bounds Between them but on January the 
J. 1715 they Came to this agreement that the Bounds Betweene said 
Lots should Begin two Rods north of a black oke tree and from the 
black oke tree Southerly to the end of Mr Corbes Lot Mr. Addams on 
the west side Mr. Corbe on the east side 

102 



3n Olompljl^ttre to the Warrente for the Meting of the Community 
of B- Proprietors of febes Neck in Barrington on October the thirteth 
one thousand and seaven hundred and Eightteene It was then voted 
at said meeting to choose three men as a Committy viz Lieu. Nathaniell 
Peck, Mr. Samuell Brown and Benjamin Viall to Lay out an open 
highway through Mr. Zacheriah Bicknels Lane, the said highway Be- 
ginning at Mr Bicknels South Gate till it Comes to the Land that was 
formerly Israeli Hardings whare there is an open highway to anser To 
this highway was freely Given By ]\Ir Bicknell at said meeting to Remain 
as an open highway for ever, the said highway being two Rods wid 



At a prOpmtOrB ilppttng Legally Warned and met to-Gether on 
Febes neck In Barrington on Alarch the seaventh on thousand seaven 
hundred and Nineteene-twenty to see if the proprietors of said Neck 
Could agree to make Dissposell of any parte of the high wayes Lieut 
Nathaniell Peck Being then Chosen Moderator of said Meeting for the 
work of said day 

March the seaventh one thousand seaven hundred and Nineteene- 
twenty then att a Proprietors Meeting Legally warned on Febes Neck 
In Barrington it was voted to Exchang the rodway as it now runs 
through I^Ir Samuell Torreys Lott for a road way on the north end of 
his Lott; Begining at a white oake tree that stands by a little pond and 
by the highway within four Rods of Captain Lows home Lott stone 
ditch wall so runing a direct line till it ends in the roadway that runs 
across the north end of J\lr. James Adams long lott 

That lieut Nathaniell Peck and his uncle Israeli Peck shall have 
liberty to shut up and have the full Improvement of the highway that 
is Between their land from Rehoboth line untill it Comes to the south 
of Nathaniell Peck Junior home lotts until the Major part of the Pro- 
prietors of Phebes Neck shall by their vote Disanule this vote 

We the subscribers who are underwritten and named do protest 
against selling or letting out any of the highways on Phebes neck In 

103 



Swansey alis Barrington In the County of Bristol allias popunomscut 
and parts ajacent on said Neck March the seaventhday anno domi one 
thousand and seaven hundred and nineteen 20 

John Baker Samuell Barns 

Mathew Allen James Brown 

Thomas Hill Samuell Brown 

Benjamin Brown Daniell Brown 

Joseph Brown 



March the 22 ly 20-21 then Agreed by Nathaniell Peck the son of 
Mr. Israeli Peck and Samuell Barns for the deviding of their thirty 
Acre Lot which lot pertained to Thomas Barnes and John Pane viz 
that the said lot being devided this day by Nathaniell Peck and Samuell 
Barnes into two parts and the deviding Lyne being well Mearked by 
severall mark treese Begining at a white oka tree standing in the Range 
of the highway next to the river on the easterly side of the Neck thence 
it extends to an old whit oke tree neere the Barne that belongs to 
Samuell Barnes thence it exstends to a stake and stones to the highway 
which stake and stones in Ranging with the marke treese aforesaid the 
north part from this Range of mark treese and stake aforesaid to Belong 
to the said Nathaniell Peck his heirs and Assignes for ever and the 
south part to belong to the said Samuell Barnes his heirs and As- 
signes for ever and this our agreement we request Benjamin Viall 
to Record in the Booke of Records Belonging to the Community of 
Proprietors of the Lands of Popanemscut and parts Ajacent In witnes 
whear of we have hereunto set our hands the day and year above writ- 
ten. 
Sined in the presence of us witneses Nathaniell Peck 

Israeli Peck Samuell Barnes 

Benjamin Viall 



A iioUtlllt of QlprtclUt trartfi of Land Lying in Partnership Between 
Mr Jabes Brown, Benjamin Brown and Isack Brown all of the town of 



104 



Barrington in the County of Bristoll in New England viz, the one halfe 
of it Belonging to said Jabes Brown and the other halfe of it belonging 
to said Benjamin Brown and Isaac Brown the first of sd. tracts of Land 
Lying in the town of Barrington adjoyning to Rehoboth Line Bounded 
Northerly to said town Line westerly to the Land of Daniell Brown East- 
erly and southerly to the Land of Benjamin Viall and is Divided as fol- 
loeth Begining at the corner of a Ditch next to said Daniell Browns 
Land about a Rod Northerly of a small pond Thence Runing with said 
Ditch East and by south about seaven Degrees to the south till it comes 
to said Viall Land the sd Jabes Browns Land Lying on the south side 
of sd Line and the said Benjamin Browns and Isaack Browns Land 
is on the Northerly side of said Divition, all in at the same time we 
the sd Jabes Brown, Benjamin Brown and Isaac Brown Divided a 
Certaine tract of Land lying in the Town of Rehoboth containing about 
one hundred and twenty acres Bounded southerly to the Line Between 
Rehoboth and Barrington; Easterly to the Land of sd Benjamin Viall 
Northerly Partly to Daniell Browns Land and Partly to Samuell Hills 
Land Bounded westerly to sd Danll Browns Land, the Divisionell line 
Begining at a stake standing in the line Betw'n sd Rehoboth and Bar- 
rington about six Rods to the westward of where formerly Capt Willet 
made a Bridge, thence North about four Degrees to the east Rainging 
with severall Markt trees to an old whit oake; mark, and still on the 
same line till it comes to a stake markt in the line Betwen this Land 
and Daniell Browns land, the land that Lyes on the Easterly side of said 
line Being about sixty acres to be and belonge to the sd. Jabes Brown 
his heirs and assignes for ever and the land that lyes on the westerly 
side of sd. Divisionell line Being about sixty acres, to be and belong to 
the sd. Benjamin Brown and Isaac Brown their heirs and assigns for- 
ever and we the sd Jabes Brown, Benjamin Brown and Isaac Brown 
Do acknowledge ourselves fully satisfied and Contented with sd Divisions 
and that it be and remaine Betweene us and our heirs and assigns for- 
ever. 

In Testamony hereof We have hereunto set our hands and seals 
this eight Day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven 



105 



hundred and twenty five and in the Twelveth year of his Majesties Reign 
George King of England and signed and sealed in presence of us 
Hesekiah Brown Benjamin Brown 

Danll Carpenter Isaac Brown 

Jabes Brown 



IKnom all mm by tl)rSF Prrspnta that we John Chaffee & Joseph 
Chaffee both of Barrington in the County of Bristol in the province of 
the Massachusetts Bay in New England the Heirs of Joseph Chaffee 
Deceased, who has in his last will and testament given unto us the 
sd John Chaffee & Joseph Chaffee his Land and meadows Lying in sd 
town 

These presents witnesseth that we John Chaffee and Joseph Chaffee 
have freely and mutually consented to and agreed upon a division of 
said Lands and meadows which we have Layd out and bounded in 
several! parcells, that is to say, the first Division to John Chaffee of 
upland & meadow butted and bounded as folloeth the north East Corner 
bounding upon the highway & stake & heaps of stones from thence to 
a stake and stone thence Runing to a walnut tree : from thence to a Red 
oak marked on two sides ; from thence to the highway & heape of stones ; 
west by the highway ; the South Corner begining with an heap of stones, 
so Runing to a Red oak tree, from thence to a black oak standing in the 
wall : then Runing to the highway East on the highway to the first men- 
tioned bounds. On the lower side of the way begining at a stake & 
heap of Stones, thence to a Red oak so Runing to a Cedar Stake being 
the North east Corner; Easterly on meadow of Joseph Chaffee by a 
Range of Stakes Southerly on land of Samuell Allen as the fence now 
stands Westerly on the highway of two Rods wide to the first mentioned 
bounds also the bounds of a piece of salt marsh belonging to the sd 
division as followeth viz ; Northerly by land of Samll Barnes, Westerly 
on the Creek, Easterly on the River, Southerly on Joseph Chaffee 
Senr & Junr all the Land and meadow within these severall bounds 
above mentioned belongeth to John Chaffee & his heirs and assigns for- 
ever be the same more or less 

io6 



A second Division unto the sd. John Chaffee, Know yee : that this 
Second Division is butted and bounded as foUoweth; northerly on land 
of Nathll Peck ; Westerly on the highway, Southerly on Land of Joseph 
Chaffee as the fence now stands ; Easterly on the highway all the Land 
Lying within these mentioned bound belongeth unto John Chaffee his 
heirs and assigns for ever, be it more or less 

Know ye that the first Division of Land and meadow belonging unto 
Joseph Chaffe is as followeth : Butted & bounded Easterly on the Creek, 
Southerly on a piece of meadow of Samll Allen, westerly on Samll 
Aliens Land ; as also westerly on Land of sd John Chaffe by a Range 
of stakes to a Cedar Stake which is the north west Corner in the meadow : 
from thence westerly to a Red oak so Runing to the highway, then on 
the highway westerly & northerly Also the bounds following are of a 
piece of Land belonging to sd Division which are as followeth : bounded 
Easterly by the highway, northerly the highway, westerly on the high- 
way, southerly on Land of John Chaffee from a heap of Stones to a 
Red oak marked on two Sides, thence to a walnut tree from thence to 
a stake & stone, from thence to a stake and stones at the Easterly Cor- 
ner all the upland and meadow Lying within those Severall bounds 
abovementioned belong to Joseph Chaffee his heirs & assigns for Ever, 
be the Same more or Less- further. Know ye the second Division of 
Joseph Chaffee is as followeth, bounded west on the highway. South 
on Land of Mathew Allen, East on the highway, north on Land of John 
Chaffee as the fence now stands All the Land Contained in these bounds 
belongeth unto the sd. Joseph Chaffe and his heirs & assigns for ever, 
be the Same more or Less. And we do by these presents acquit all our 
claim, Right title and interest in & to the same in each & Every Division 
belonging to each of us as they are above bounded for ourselves our heirs 
Executors administrators & assigns for ever & we the sd John Chaffe & 
Joseph Chaffe do promise for ourselves & our heirs Executors administra- 
tors & assigns, never to Disturb or molest Each other in the Quiet & peac- 
able possession & improvement of our Divisions. In witness whereof we 
have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty sixth day of march 
one thousand seven hundred twenty & nine & in the Second year of the 

107 



Reign of our Soveraign Lord George by the grace of God, of Great 

Brittain &c 

Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of 

James Bicknell John Chaffe 

Recompence Tiffany Joseph Chaffe 



A IBtmatrnt of r^rtaw IGanJlB Betwen Benjamin Brown of Reho- 
and Isaac Brown of the Town of Barrington in the County of Bristoll 
in the province of the Massachusets bay in Newengland viz Two Tracts 
of Land being in Eaquall Partnership the one of said Tracts of 
Land Containing Ten acres and sixty six Rods Lyeing partly in the 
Town of Rehoboth and partly in said Barrington, Bounded westerly 
the land of Daniell Brown, Southerly the land of Jabes Brown, Easterly 
the land of Benjamin Viall and partly the land of sd Jabes Brown 
Northerly the other peace of land hereafter mentioned the Divisionall 
Line that is agreed on to part sd. Tracts of Land Begins at a stake 
standing in a Ditch in the line of said Daniell Browns land Twenty 
seven Rods to the North of the south west Corner of said Tract of land 
thence east and by south about seven Degrees to the south till it come to 
the Land of Mr. Viall. The sd Land that Lyes on the southerly side 
of sd line to be and belong to the sd Benjamin Brown his heirs and 
assigns for ever being five acres and thirty three Rods and the land lying 
on the Nbrtherly side of said line being five acres and thirty three Rods 
to be and belong to the sd. Isacc Brown his heirs and assigns for ever, 
the other of sd tract of land lyeing within the sd Town of Rehoboth on 
the North end of the abovesaid land. Bounded Easterly the land of Jabes 
Brown, westerly and Northerly the Land of Daniell Brown being fourty 
Two acres and three quarters Lyeing one hundred and nineteene Rods 
long and the sd. Isaac Brown is to have and to hold to him his heirs 
and assigns for ever, Twenty one acres and sixty Rords the south end 
of sd tract of land Being fifty six rods Northerly and southerly Runing 
one end from a stake standing on the west side of sd land, in the line 
of said Daniell Browns Land thence East and by South till it comes to 

io8 



sd Jabes Browns Land And the sd Benjamin Brown is to have and 
to hold to him his heirs and assigns for Ever the Northerly end of sd 
tract of land Being twenty one acres and sixty Rods, Runing sixty three 
Rods Northerly and southerly and for the conformation of the above 
sd Divition we the sd Benjamin Brown and Isaac Brown hath here- 
unto set our hands and scales this sevententh Day of December Anno 
Domini 1725 and in the twelfth year of his Majesties Reign King of 
Great Brittaine and signed sealed in Presence 

Daniell Brown Benjamin Brown 

Daniell Carpenter Isaac Brown 



At a pvapmtaVB Mntxn^ Legally warned and assembled on 
Phebes Neck so called in Barrington the first day of Aprel 1730 to see if 
the proprietors of said neck would agree to make disposal of Part of a 
Road or way in said Phebes Neck in Barrington, Mr Samuel Allen 
being Chosen moderator of said meeting, it being put to vot whether 
the proprietors would dispose of said way voted in the affermitive, it 
was then put to vote whether the proprietors would give the way be- 
gining at Samuel Barns south west corner of his hom lot thence Runing 
northward to Rehoboth line to Doer Hesekiah Chaffee him his heirs and 
assignes for ever as a bounty and encorregment for him to settle amongst 
us, it was voted in the Afermitive The Road or way now Disposed of 
Begins at Samuell Barns south west Corner Runing northward at the 
head of the home lots belonging to Nathaniell Peck, Deacon Nathaniell 
Peck and Joseph Allen to Rehoboth line being an eight Rod way 

Voted that Deacon Nathaniel Peck, Mr Benjamin Viall, Mr 
Samuel Allen be a Committe to receive a Bond of Docter Hesekiah 
Chaffe for and in the behalfe of the proprietors 



At n 2iamfuU Harn^Ji Mvttxn^ of the Proprietors of Phebes Neck 
In warren and Parts ajacent : Held at the Meeting House on Phebes 
Neck in said Warren : On the thirteenth Day of March 17505 1 to 
Chuse a Proprietors Qark 



109 



Matthew Allin Esqr. was Chosen Moderator for said Meeting, and 
the said Mathew Allin was Chosen Clark of the said Proprietors to keep 
the Book of Record of the said Propriety and Mr. Nathaniell Peck and 
Mr James Brown was Chosen to see that the said Matthew Allin Takes 
his Oath to the said office of a Clark to the said Proprietors and to go 
with him to see that he receives the said Book or makes Demand of it 
of Mr Nathaniel Viall who is the Executor of Mr Benjamin Viall 
Decesd — who was the Late Clark of ye sd Proprietors 

In the Colony of Rhode Island: Matthew Allin Bristol ss. 

Clark to the said Proprietors 



Warren March 13th 1750-51 
Matthew Allin Esqr. Parsonally came before me one of his Majes- 
ties Justices of the peace for the County of Bristol and took his Oath 
to the office of a Clarke of the Proprietors of Phebes Neck and parts 
ajacent 
In presence of 

Nathaniel Peck James Smith 

James Brown Quorum Unus 



Pursuant to the within vote of the Proprietors March 20th 1750-51 
I demanded the Proprietors Book of Records of Nathaniell Viall in pres- 
ence of Mr Nathanel Peck & Mr James Brown and the said Viall 
Refused to Deliver to me the said Book Mathew Allin 



Bristol Ss 

[S] To Samuel Brown Esqr. one of the Proprietors of the Pur- 
chase Lands Commonly Caled Sawams Allias Sawamsett and parts 
adjacent 

Whereas Application hath bin made to me the subscriber one of 
his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Bristol In the 
province of Massachusetts bay by Samuel Brown Esqr Joseph Brown 
Hesekiah Brown, Charles Brown and Capt Benjamin Brown, being Pro- 
prietors in the purchase Lands afforsd Desiring a Proprietors meeting 



might be Caled on munday the first day of Aprill Next to meete To- 
g-ether at the Dwelling house of Nathaniel Vial in Rehoboth in the 
County of Bristoll where the land Lyeth at Ten of the Clock in the 
forenoon on sd Day, then and there to Chose a Proprietors Clerk in 
the Rome or stead of Mr Benjamin Vial late Deceased, who was their 
former Proprietors Clerk 

These are therefore In his majesties Name to Require you to Noti- 
fie the sd Proprietors with the time and place of sd meeting and what 
is to be acted at sd meeting (vis) to Chose a Proprietors Clerk, which 
Notification to be in writing posted up in some Public place or places 
in the Town or Towns where the Land of the sd Purchase Lyeth at 
least fourteen dayes before the day appointed for sd meeting, for which 
this shall be your sufficient warrant, you are to make return of this 
warrant with your Doings thereon to the sd Proprietors at ye sd meeting. 

Given under my hand and seal in Rehoboth afforsd the Twenty 
third Day of febuary in the Twenty fourth year of his majestie's King 
George the Seconds Reigne, AnnoQue Dominis 1750 

Danll Carpenter 



Bristoll Ss 

Rehoboth Aprill ye first Day 175 1 
Persuant to the within written warrant to me Directed I have caused 
a Notification to be posted up in some Public place in Rehoboth Swansey 
and Warren (where the Proprietors Cheifly Dwell), in which Notifica- 
tion the articles in the warrant are Inserted at Lest fourteen Days before 
the Day appointed for sd meeting 

per me Samuel Brown 



Persuant to the sd warrant the Proprietors of the Lands and pur- 
chase Sawams alias Sawamsett and parts Adjacent Assembled and met 
together at the Dwelling house of Nathaniel Viall in Rehoboth on the 
first Day of Aprill Anno Domini 175 1 being a Lawfull meeting of sd 
Proprietors and by a majority of votes Chose Capt Joseph Wheaton 
moderator for sd and at the same time the sJ Proprietors Chose Nathaniel 

III ' 



Vial Proprietors Clerk. The sd Nathaniel Vial being Present at the same 

i 

Time accepted the sd Choice 

Joseph Wheaton moderator 



Bristoll ss. Rehoboth Aprill ye first 1751 
Then Mr Nathaniel Viall of Rehoboth Appeared Personaly and was 
Duly Sworn to the office of Clerk of the Proprietors of the Purchase 
Lands Commonly Caled Sawams alias Sawamsett and parts ajacent 
I say made oath before me Danll Carpeter 

Justice of the Peace 



Province of the Massachusetts Bay 
Bristol Ss 

[S] To Mr Nathaniel Vial of Rehoboth Clerk of the Proprietors 
of the Purchased Lands Commonly Caled Sawams alias Sawamsett, and 
parts ajacent Lyeing in Rehoboth Swansey and Warren 

Whereas Application hath binn made to me the subscriber one ot 
his Majesties Justices of the peace for the sd County of Bristoll in the 
Province of the Massachusetts bay by Capt Daniel Hunt, Peter Brown, 
Charles Brown, Daniel Brown & Hesekiah Brown, sonne of the Pro- 
prietors of the Lands afifor'sd Desiring a Pproprietors meeting may be 
Caled and warned to meete at the Dwelling house of Nathaniel Vial in 
Rehoboth on munday the thirteth Day of this Instant Aprill at the Ten 
of the Clock in the forenoon on sd Day to act on the following articles 
if the said Proprietors shall think Proper 

1st to Chose a moderator for sd meeting 

2ly To take some proper measure Relating to the Land Left by 
sd Proprietors for Highwaies and are not stated for that use whether 
they will proceed to bound out and state sd wayes or Renew the bounds 
of such Lands ; more especially that strip of Land of Eight Rods wide 
Left for a high-way from Daniel Alins and Peleg Richmonds : Runing 
westerly to the maine Cove, (so caled,) 

3ly to Chose Committe to act in said Proprietors Behalfe in Prose- 



cuting any affair or method that shall be agreed upon by sd Proprietors 
Relating to such Lands Left for sd ways 

4ly to know the sd Proprietors minds whether they will have an 
Alphabetical Table made to their Book of Records 

These are therefore for his majesties Name to Require you to 
Notifie the sd Proprietors of sd meeting by notifications posted up in 
writing in some publick place in sd Rehoboth, Swansey and Warren 
and Insert therein the above mentioned articles with the Time and 
Place of meeting fourteen Days Before the Time appointed for sd meet- 
ing for which this shall be our sufficient warrant 

Hereof fail not and make Return of this warrant with your Doings 
thereon to sd Proprietors at sd meeting 

Given under my hands and seal in Rehoboth the fourteenth Day 

of April in the Twenty sixth year of his majesties Reigne Anno Dominis 

1753 

Danl: Carpenter 



Bristol Ss. Rehoboth April ye 30th 1753 

Persuant to the within warrant I have Notified the Proprietors within 
mentioned to meete together at Time and place within Directed by 
posting up Notifications in Rehoboth, Swansey and Warren in pub- 
lick places in sd Towns fourteen Days before the Time appointed for 
sd meeting Inserting in said Notification the articles in sd warrant as 
well as Time and place of meeting 

per me Nathaniel Viall 

Proprietors Clerk 
The Warrant and return are truly entred per me 

Nathaniel Viall 

Proprietors Qerk 



At a ICmufuU mtPttn^ of % l^XOpnStOVB of the Lands Com- 
monly Caled Sawams alias Sawamsett and parts adjacent Lyeing in Reho- 
both, Swansey and Warren being met at the Dwelling house of Nathaniel 
Vial in Rehoboth on munday ye 30th day of April Anno Domini 1753 



113 



Proprietors Present & voting at sd meeting are as followeth; Daniel 
Alin, Joseph Brown Nathaniel Vial, Hesekiah Brown, Nathaniel Peck, 
of Rehoboth, Charles Brown, Peter Brown, Daniel Brown, John Brown 
& Daniel Hunt 

At the same time Capt Daniel Hunt was chosen moderator for sd 
meeting. And also at the same time the sd Proprietors Taking into 
consideration that there are Divers Pices and strips of Land Lyeing within 
the Bounds of their Propriety that were Left when the origonal Lotts 
ware Laid oute, some of them of eight Rods in width and some Nar- 
rower, and altho the sd Proprietors Do not Think it Nessessary that the 
whool of such Lands should be stated for Highways or Privateways But 
so much of said Lands as are or shall be Judged Needfull and Nesses- 
sary for Highways and Privateways The sd Proprietors Do hereby mane- 
fest their willingness and free consent that such ways should be Laid 
out and stated by the selectmen of the Towns wherein the Lands Lye 
or any other authority proper to do the same 

At the same time it was voted and agreed upon by sd Proprietors 
that there be an Alphabettical Table made to their Book of Records 



To Solomon Townsend Jr Esqr one of his Majesties Justice of 
the peace for the County of Bristoll in the Colony of Rhode Island We 
the subscribers Proprietors of the Land Commonly Called Sawams alias 
Sawamset And Parts Adjacent Lying in Barrington Warren, Bristol, 
Rehoboth & Swansey Humbly Request you to grant out your warrant 
Directed to the Proprietors Clark or one of the Proprietors for the Calling 
a Proprietors Meeting of the above said Proprietors on Tuesday The 
Thirtyeth Day of August Next, at the Dwelling House of Mr Henry 
Bowen Inholder in said Barrington At three of the Clock in the afternoon 
on said Day To Act on the following Articles if they think Proper 

I To Chuse Moderator to carry on sd Meeting 

2ly To Chuse Proprietors Clark in the Roome of Mr Nathaniel 
Viall who Refuses to serve any Longer 

3ly To Chuse a Committe to Receive the Book & Papers in the 

114 



Office of the Present Clarke and Deliver the same to the New Clarke 
and Examin the Book to see if thair Has been any Leaves Cutt out of 
said Book and Report Accordingly to the Proprietors that thair Report 
be Recorded and the Committe to Give a Receipt for the Book & Papers 
4ly To know the Proprietors minds wheather thay will give up 
the highways laid out for the use of the sd propriety and their Lots to 
the several Towns whair they Lay to and for the use of said towns for 
Highways or privateways as they shall think best 

5ly To Know who shall be deemed Proprietors for the future, 
and to Dispose of Any Lands that Belongs to sd Proprietors 

And to Act upon & Do any Other Business that may Legally come 
before them 

James Brown Joshua Bicknell 

Samuel Allen Nathaniel Viall 

Thomas Allen Benjamin Viall 

Solomon Peck Samuel Viall 



Bristol ss To James Brown Esqr in the Town of Barrington in the 
County of Bristol, one of the Proprietors of the Pro- 
priety within Mentioned : In Complyance with the within 
Request you are hereby in his Majesties Name Required 
to Notify the within mentioned Proprietors to Assemble 
and meet together at the within said time & Place for 

the Purpose within Mentioned. Given under my Hand and Seal at said 

Barrington this first Day of August in the fourteenth year of his present 

Majesties Reign 

A. D. 1774 Soln: Townsend Junior Just Pace 

Served the above by seting up Notifications in the Towns of Bristol 
Warren Barrington, Rehoboth & Swansey 

Attest James Brown a Proprietor 



At a fxaprxetXttB JH^^ttng Lawfully warned and conven'd at the 
house of Mr. Henry Bowen of Barrington Inholder 



"5 



August the thirtyeth Day A. D. 1774 

James Brown Esqr was Chosen Moderator 

Thomas Allin was Chosen Clark to sd Propriety And sworn into 
said Office by Solomon Townsend Junior one of his ^Majesties Justices 
of the Peace for the County of Bristol in the Colony of Rhode Island 
& Providence Plantations, In Xew England 

Voted that Col Samuel Allen, Solomon Peck, and Josiah Humphry 
Esqrs Be a Committe to Receive the Book & Papers of Mr Nathaniel 
Viall the former Clark and Deliver the same to Thomas Allin the Present 
Clark 

And to search and Examin the Book to see if thair has been any 
Leaves Defaced or Cutt out of said Book and ^Nlake Report of the 
Same to the Proprietors that their Report ]May be Recorded if the 
Proprietors think fitt the said Committe to Give a Recept for the Book 
and ye Papers if thair is Any in ye said Office 

Voted That it is the Oppinion of this Propriety that the Highways 
that hath already been voted as Common highways was Laid out for 
the Benefit of the towns whare they ware Laid And that we Have no 
Right to Dispose of them as Proprietors but look on them as towns 
ways : voted and Passed nem con 

Voted that this ^Meeting be Adjomed to the first Monday in Novem- 
ber Next at four of the Clock P. ]\L at the house of Mr Henry Bowen 
in Barrington aforesaid 



At a Proprietors Meeting Held By Adjomment this se\'^nth Day 
of November A. D. 1774 at the House of Henry Bowen when Mr. Josiah 
Humphry was Chosen Moderator in the Roome of James Brown Esqr. 
who Could not attend 

Voted that for the futre the Owners of the Land that Lieth in 
the Limits of this Propriety to be Deemed Proprietors and to vote and 
act as such in as full and Ample a manner as the former Proprietors 
Did in thair Proportions (or sheares) 

116 



Barrington November ye 7 1774 
We the subscribers Being Appointed a Committe By the Proprietors 
of Sawams alis Sawamset to receive the Book and Papers of Mr Nathanel 
Viall and Delivered the same to Mr Thomas AlHn, and to Sarch the 
Book to see if thair had been any Leaves Defaced or Cutt out; We do 
Report as follows ; 

That we have Searched the Book and find that thair hath been no 
Leaves Cutt out or Defaced in any wise or Missing, and we further 
report that we have Delivered the Book to Mr Thomas Allin the Present 
Clarke and took a Receipt for the Same and found no papers in said 
office, and it is our Opinion that Mr Nathaniel Viall the former Clarke 
hath been very Careful of the Book 

Solomon Peck 

Josiah Humphry Committe 

Samuell Allen 

Voted that the foregoing Report be received and Recorded in the 
Proprietors Book of Records Voted that this Meeting be Disolved 
and it was Dissolved Accordingly, witness 

Thomas Allin 

Proprietors Clarke 



At a SlnUItt Mtttxn^ Held by Adjournment on the Twentyeth Day 
of June A. D. 1776 

This Meeting taking into Consideration that Part of the Warrant 
Relating to Highways and as this Town has passed A vote that such High- 
ways as Could be spared or such Part thair of as was not wanted for 
traveling should be sold and the money Lodged in Bank to Maintain 
a free school 

The town Council being appointed to Measure & Dispose of the 
same to such Persons as shall Incline to Purchase and they having 
surved and bounded out sd Land to Severall Persons and agreed with 
them for the Price but through the Neglect of the said town Council 
the Persons so agreed with after being at a grate cost to fense said land 



117 



could not obtain any Deeds of the same although sd Council did appoint 
a Day to Give Deeds to ye Severall Persons agreed with : But Contrary 
to the Express Vote of this town did Refuse so to do : and as this town 
is of the oppinion That thay Ought to fulfill such Contracts when Made 
on the Faith & credit of the town by Persons Impowered so to do by 
ye vote of said town : Thairfore it is Voted that James Brown Esqr. 
Joshua Bicknell Esqr. Josiah Humphry thay or the Major part of them 
be a Committe with full Power and Athority to sell and Dispose of sd 
lands and to Give Deed of the same which shall be Good and valid in 
law as though sined by sd town Council, and to pay ye Money arising 
from the sale of said land into the Town Treasury for the benefit of a 
free schoole : and as sundri Persons have signed a Complaint against 
those Persons who have agreed with said Council for sd land thairfore 
it is voted that this town will defend said Persons In the Prossession of 
said land untill this Committe shall have sufficient time to give Deeds of 
said Land & take the Pay for the same, and if those persons or either 
of them shall Refuse to Purchase said Land at ye Price the Committe 
shall sett, thay shall Lay open the same within six Months from thair 
Refusal to Purchase sd Land: Voted that This vote be Emediately Put 
on ye town Record and also on the Proprietors Book of Record Keept 
by Thomas Allin Proprietors Clarke and that said Record shall be good 
and Valid in all cases Whatever 

Voted and Pased Nem Con., 

Per Thos Allin P'tors Clk 



To Solomon Townsend Jr. Esqr. one of the Justices of the County 
of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations 

We the Subscribers Proprietors of the Land Commonly Called 
Sawams alis Sawamset snd Part adjacent Lying in Barrington, Warren, 
Bristol, Rehoboth and Swansey Humbly Request you to Grant out your 
Warrent Directed to the Proprietors Clark or one of the Proprietors for 
the Calling a Proprietors Meeting of the above said Proprietors on 
Wensday the fifteenth day of March A. D. 1786. At the Dwelling 

118 



House of Mr Benjamin Viall of Rehoboth at two O'clock P. M. to 
Act on the following Business if they think Proper 

First to Chuse a Moderator to Carry on said Meeting 
Secndly To know the Proprietors Minds Whether thay will give up 
thair Rites to the highways & strips of land left by the Proprietors for 
the Highways and Privete ways if it should be wanted for such : and 
Common Lots to the severall towns whare the Land lies : or take some 
Method to secure the same to themselves or Dispose of or Rent them 
for the benefit of the Proprietors as thay shall think best and do all Other 
Business that may Come Legally before said meeting 

Nathaniel Vial Isaack Brown 

Benjamin Viall William Hunt 

Jesse Brown James Brown 



Bristol ss To Thomas AUin of Barrington Esqr, Clark of the 
within Propriety In Complyance to the Request of the 
subscribers to the within Petition You are hereby in 
the Name of the Governor & Company of the State of 
Rhode Island, Requested to Notify the Proprietors to the 
within mentioned Land to Assemble at the House of 
Mr Benjamin Viall in Rehoboth on Wensday the fifteenth Day of March 
Next at Two O'clock P. M. to transact the Business within discribed 
and all other matters that may Legally Come before said Meeting. Wit- 
ness my hand and seal at said Barrington this 15th day of February 
A. D. 1786 and in the Independence of America the tenth 

Solo Townsend Junr Jus o Peace 
Served the above by seting up Notifications in the Towns whare 
the Proprietors aforesaid Dwells ; attest 

Thomas Allin 

Prots Qark 



At a Proprietors Meeting Lawfully warned and Held at the Dwell- 
ing house of Mr Benjamin Viall in Rehoboth March ye 15 A. D. 1786 



119 



Capt Matthew AUin was Chosen Moderator for said Meeting and 
then the Meeting was Dissolved without acting on the warrant 
Witness; Thomas AlHn Pr. Clark 



To Solomon Townsend Esqr. one of the Justices of the Peace for 
the County of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island 

We the subscribers, Proprietors of the lands Commonly Called 
Sawams alis Sawamsit and parts aj assent lying in Barrington Warren 
Bristol, Rehoboth & Swansey, Humbly request you to Grant your War- 
rent to one of said Proprietors for the calling a proprietors Meeting 
of the said proprietors on Thursday the sixteenth day of March Next 
at one O'clock P. M. at the house of Elknah Humphry Esqr. in Bar- 
rington to act on the following Business if thay should think fitt: First 
to Chuse a Moderator for said Meeting: Secondly to know the Pro- 
prietors minds wheather thay will take Some measure to secure thair 
title and Intrust in the land left by the Proprietors when the Origenall 
lots ware laid out : for Common land or Highways and hath not been 
Stated for such 

And Do all other Business that may come Leagaly before said 
Meeting 

Thomas AUin Solomon Peck Jr 

Solomon Peck Allin Viall 

Nathanel Heath Jacob Chandler 

Elknah Humphry Esra Kent Jr 

John Humphry Oliver Brown 

Ebenazer Peck John R. Richmond 

Bristol Ss. To Ebenezer Peck of Barrington in the County of 
Bristol Gentm one of the Proprietors of the land com- 
monly called Sawams alias Sawamset & Lying in Bar- 
rington, Warren, Bristol, Rehoboth and Swansey 
Greeting 

Whereas Request is this day made to me the sub- 
scriber one of the Justices Assignd to keep the peace within the County 



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PHOTOGRAPH OF LAST PAGE OP SOWAMS RECORDS, 1797, WITH AUTOGRAPHS 
OF THE MODERATOR AND CLERK 



of Bristol afored by Thomas AUin Solomon Peck, Nathl Heath, Elknah 
Humphry, John Humphry, Ebenezer Peck, Solomon Peck Jr. AUin Viall, 
Jacob Chandler, Ezra Kent Jr., Oliver Brown & John R. Richmond, 
Requesting a Warrent for Calling a Meeting of the Proprietors of the 
land afores'd on Thursday the sixteenth day of March next at the house 
of Elknah Humphry in said Barrington at one O'clock afternoon: 

To Chuse a Moderator for sd Meeting and to Know the minds of 
the Proprietors wheather thay will take some Measure to Secure thair 
title & Intrust in said Lands left by the Proprietors when the Original 
lots ware laid out for common lands or highways & hath not been 
Stated for such and to do all other Business that may come legally 
before sd meeting 

Therefore you are hereby Requested in the Name of the Govr & 

Compy of the State of Rhode Island &c to Notify & warn the Proprietors 

to the land aforesd To Assemble at time & place aforesd for the purpose 

Aforesd Given under my hand and seal at Barrington aforesd This 

Twenty Eighth Day of Feby in the 21st year of Independance A. D. 

1797 

Solo Townsend J. Pacis 

This Warrant Duly Served as the Law directs 

Ebenezer Peck 
Witness Thomas AUin Ps Clk 



At a Proprietors Meeting Lawfully Warned and held at the House 
of Elknah Humphry Esqr. in Barrington on Thursday the Sixteenth 
day of March A. D. 1797 

Solomon Townsend Esqr was Chosen Moderator for sd meeting 

Voted that the following Remonstrance be presented to the town 
of Rehoboth at thair April Meeting 

To the members of the town of Rehoboth in town meeting Legally 
Assembled on the first Monday in April A. D. 1797 Respectfully sheweth 
we the Proprietors of the Land Commonly Called Sawams alis Sawam- 
set and parts ajasent lying in Bristol, Warren, Swansey, Rehoboth & 
Barrington, that at a proprietors meeting held at Barrington on the i6th 



of March A. D. 1797 for a Review of our Proprietorship in the land 
afore sd and Observing Certain Incurstions on the common lands belong- 
ing to this proprierty and within the bound of our sd Proprietorship 

We the Proprietors most Humbly remonstrate against any Incur- 
tions that are or may be made on any land belonging to said Propriety 
and we further Remonstrate against any Proceeding had and obtained 
against our Right & Priviledges as Proprietors and sole owi\ers of all 
the Common Land that hath not been Disposed of by us in a Lawfull 
way Relying on the Honor of the town of Rehoboth that thay will not 
suflfer thair Committe to Interfear with what belongs to us 

Voted that Mr Thomas Allin & Leut Ebenezer Peck be a Committe 

to Present this Memorial & Remonstrance to the Moderator of sd town 

Meeting and that the Proprietors Clark Record the same in our book of 

record 

March i6th 1797 

Solo Townsend Modr 

Witness Thomas Allin Clark 

This Meeting Adjourned to the third Wensday in April Next at 
four o'clock P. M 
Witness; Thomas Allin Pror Clk 



laa 



CHAPTER III 

THE SOWAMS PROPRIE- 
TARY 



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^I^^I^HE first settlers at Plymouth were granted three large tracts 
y '^ I of land for themselves and their associates by letters Patent 
A I I from King James, — one at Patuxet or Plymouth, another 
^^^Jf at Kennebec, Maine, and the third at Pokanoket or Sowam- 
set. As the chief men had invested funds in the enterprise 
to a considerable amount proportionate to their means, and had, up to 
1638, been assigned only a small quantity of the land at and near 
Plymouth included in the patent, it was decided by the Court after hear- 
ing and debating the matter, that the leaders in the immigration who 
had disbursed large sums of money, namely Mr. Bradford, Mr. Prince, 
Captain Standish and the rest of the partners should make choice of 
two or three places for their use and ownership, and it was agreed "that 
there shall be no more Plantations erected until the Purchasers (or old 
comers) have made their choice." This privilege was not promptly 
used, for we find under date of 1652, that the General Court considered 
the matter, confirming the acts of the year 1638, and requiring "the old 
comers or Purchasers to take up their particular proportions of land 
within the precincts of the three former specified places," within four- 
teen months next ensuing. This legislation led the early colonial part- 
ners to prompt action in the selection and purchase of the lands at 
Sowams. The original agreement is as follows : 

" The first original agreement of the proprietors under their hands 
upon the Grant of the Court concerning each one's part in the lands 
at Sawomes and Mattapoysett Dated ye 7th month, 1652 

" The names of those who by order of Court and agreement of 
purchasers at Plymouth to make purchase and division of the Lands as 
are at Sawomes and Mattapoysett the seaventh month 1652 who are 
to have their several Pts or moyeties and satisfie the purchase and all 
other charges arriseing thereupon according to their several proportions 

" Their names are as folloeth : 

125 



" Mr. William Bradford one moyety 

Mr. Thomas Prince one half pt 

Mr. Edward Winslow All his portion 

Mr. John Adams his whole whole portion 

Mr. Cushman his whole pte 

Mr. John Winslow all his pte 

Thomas Clarke his half pte 

Experience Mitchell his half pte 

Mr. Thomas Willett his pte 

Mr. Myles Standish's half pte 

" Wee whose names are above expressed doe here by engage our- 
selves to make good whatever charges shall arise in the further prosecu- 
tion of the premises above mentioned it being brought in upon account, 
witness our hands ye day and year above written 

" William Bradford John Winslow 

Thomas Prince Experience Mitchell 

Thomas Willett Knelm Winslow 

Edward Winslow Resolved White 

Thomas Cushman Peregrine White 

Thomas Clarke Myles Standish " 

In 1653, we find that Sowams was purchased of Massassoit and 
the Plantation formed into a Proprietary under the name of " Sowams 
and Parts Adjacent." Sowams or Barrington had been known to the 
settlers from 1620, through their frequent visits to Massassoit, their con- 
stant friend and benefactor. From its beautiful location on Narragansett 
(or Sowams) Bay and Pawtucket River, its intersection by several 
streams, the fertility of the soil and the large quantity of salt and fresh 
meadows, with plenty of timber for building and fuel, it was called " The 
Garden of the Colony." 

The social, civil and business relations of the Pilgrims made their 
society a pure Commonwealth. With the exception of the ownership 
of house and garden by the individual settlers, all things were for com- 
mon possession and protection. At first one acre was allowed to each 

126 



for present use, then two, afterwards sixteen, and at the end of ten 
years from the landing at Plymouth, many of the settlers possessed 
large tracts of land. As their numbers and possessions increased, other 
plantations or settlements grew up around Plymouth, each with its 
church as the centre of population, as at Duxbury, Marshfield, and 
Scituate, The lands in that section were held by occupancy or by grant 
from the Plymouth Court, the title being sometimes confirmed by royal 
patent. With reference to Indian purchases, the Court ordered that no 
title to land should be valid unless confirmed by it. In order to secure 
larger areas of land, of which they soon became greedy, several per- 
sons united in the purchase of a large tract of the Indians and, on appli- 
cation to the Court, the purchase was confirmed and a charter issued to 
the purchasers under the title of a Propriety, the owners of which were 
styled proprietors. After settlement had been made on the propriety in 
sufiicient numbers to justify the formation of a township, an act of 
incorporation was granted, by which the propriety was erected into a 
town, all unsold lands remaining in the hands of and under the control 
of the proprietors. 

As we have seen, Massassoit had already made a formal transfer 
of all his territorial possessions and allegiance to King James in 162 1. 
In order to secure a more valid and personal title, the " old comers " 
sought and secured of the great Sachem, a deed of such land as they 
had been urged to take up by the Plymouth Court. Their selections 
included the territory of Barrington and parts of the present towns of 
East Providence, Seekonk, and Swansea, bearing the Indian name of 
Sowams, and certain meadow rights, salt and fresh in the territory of 
Mount Hope or Consumpsit Neck, now Warren and Bristol. In this deed 
he earnestly urged the proprietors to insert the clause, " never to draw 
away from his people to the Christian religion," for he, with consistent 
faith, believed that the Great Spirit would preserve his race, only as they 
remained loyal to their heathen worship, while the Pilgrims with a 
better knowledge and a purer faith sought to establish Christianity as 
the basis of their civilization, with the feeling that the latter was depend- 
ent on the former for its perpetuity and progress. 

127 



The following is a copy of the deed from Massassoit and Alexander 
to Thomas Prince and others, dated March 20, 1653, and is the basis 
of all real estate titles in Barrington. 



**®llP diranh Btth of ^ail^ of UattJiB 

From Osamequin and Wamsetto his son, dated 29th March 1653 

** QI0 all P^OJllp to whome these presents shall come Osame- 
quin and Wamsetto his eldest Sone Sendeth greeting KNOW YEE that 
we the said Osamequin and Wamsetto for & in Consideration of thirty- 
five pounds sterling to us the said Osamequin and Wamsetto, in hand 
paid By Thomas Prince Gent; Thomas Willett Gent; Miles Standish 
Gent; Josiah Winslow Gent; for And in the behalf e of themselues and 
divers others of the Inhabitants of Plimouth Jurisdiction, whose names 
are hereafter specified with which said summe we the said Osamequin 
and Wamsetto doo Acknowledge ourselues fully satisfyed, contented and 
payd HAUE freely and absolutely bargained and Sold Enfeoffed and 
Confirmed and by these presents Doo Bargaine Sell Enfeoffe and Con- 
firm from us the said Osamequin and Wamsetto and our Euery of our 
haiers unto Thomas Prince Thomas Willett Miles Standish Josiah Wins- 
low Agents for themselues and William Bradford Senr Gent; Thomas 
Clark, John Winslow Thomas Cushman William White John Adams 
and Experience Mitchell to them and Euery of them their and Euery 
of their haiers and assigns forever 

" All those Severall parcels and Necks of upland Swamps and 
Meadows Eyeing and being on the South Syde of Sinkhunck Els Reho- 
both Bounds and is bounded from a Little Brooke of water called by 
the Indians Mosskituash Westerly and so ranging by a dead Swamp 
Eastward and so by markt trees as Osamequin and Wamsetto directed 
unto the gfreat River with all the meadow in and about ye sides of both 
the branches of the great River with all the Creeks and Brooks that 
are in or upon any of the said meadows as also all the marsh meadow 
Lying and being with out the Bounds before mentioned in or about 
the neck called by the Indians Chachacust Also all the meadow of any 

128 








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^^-^TUxtl?'rIl^^c)|- 



INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF ANCIENT CONGREGATIONAL MEET- 
ING-HOUSE, HARRINGTON. RHODE ISLAND 



Erected in 1737 near site of present meeting-house 



kind Lying and being in or about Popasquash neck as also the meadow 
Lyeing from Kickomuet on both sides or any way Joyning to it on the 
bay on Each Side 

"To HAUE AND TO HOLD all the aforesaid upland Swamps 
Marshes Creeks and Rivers withe all their appurtinances unto the afore- 
said Thomas Prince Thomas Willett Miles Standish Josia Winslow 
and the rest of the partners aforesaid to theme And Every of them their 
and Every of their haiers Executors And Assignees for Ever And the 
said Osamequin and Wamsetto his Sone Covenant promise and grant that 
whensoeuer the Indians shall Remoue from the Neck that then and from 
thenceforth the aforesaid Thomas Prince Thomas Willett Miles Stand- 
ish Josiah Winslow shall enter upon the same by the same Agreement 
as their Proper Rights And Interest to them and to their haiers for Ever 

" To and for the true performance of all and Every one of the 
aforesaid severall Perticulars wee the said Osamequin and Wamsetto 
Bind us and Every of us our and every of our haiers Executors and 
Administrators and Assignes ffirmly by these presents 

" In witness whereof wee haue hereunto sett our hands and Seales 
this twentieth day of March anno Domini 1653 

" Signed Sealed and Delivered 

in ye presence of us The marke of us 

John Browne Osamequin & a (Scale) 

James Browne Wamsetto M & (Scale)" 

Richard Garrett 

®l|J fitBt bUBUt^HB of the Sowams Land Company was the division 
of the grant into lots and the assignment to share-^holders by lot, of a 
particular portion of the upland and meadows, the meadows being the 
salt and fresh grass lands on the borders of the bays, rivers, and smaller 
streams, where these natural grasses grew abundantly, without cultiva- 
tion. In the Sowams Plantation, each of the original lots of upland 
contained eighty acres, and a whole share entitled the purchaser to one 
hundred and sixty acres of land. The meadow land was divided into 
lots of ten acres each for each shareholder. Sometimes the share of 

129 



upland and meadow lands was laid out in two localities, in order that 
an equal quality as well as quantity might be assigned to each. 

" QIljp Bttanh agrp^m^tlt of the Proprietors about the devition of 
the lands at Sawomes, March ii, 1653 It is agreed and concluded by 
the company of partners yt are interested at Sawomes that there shall 
be twenty lots of Land Layed fourth each lot containing eighty acres 
in as convenient a form as may be and for the deviding of it as we are 
agreed yt to every half share put in a lot and the whole shares shall 
put in two Lots and whomever shall be the first draw shall have the 
first choice of his lot comes south and so the second and third and the 
rest successively and these lots to be drawn as soone as may be after 
it is soe devided provided that every whole share shall have twenty 
acres alowed them either at the heads of their Lotts or in such other 
places as shall be thought meet 

"And as touching the meadows it is agreed that all our meadows 
shall be laid out into ten acre shares as the former, having respect to 
Quantity and Quality and that the whole shares shall chuse three Lots 
on the Neck at one end, and shall have other three lots apoynted by 
the half shares on the other side Sowames River lyeing also at one 
end and together in lew of that which was formally allotted equally 
to half shares and whole shares and the persons that are made choice 
of to make these devitions above said are Capt Myles Standish Mr 
Brown Capt Willett and Mr. Thomas Clark or any three of these And 
we whose names are under written doe bind ourselves to stand to what 
they shall doe in the premises abovesaid 

William Bradford Resolved White 

John Brown Thomas Clark 

Thomas Prince Myles Standish 

Thomas Willett John Winslow 

Josiah Winslow 
" Knelm Winslow with the consent of John Adams and for his use " 

Besides the " home lots " and the " meadow lots " there were other 
lands styled " Pastors " and " Teachers' lots," from the income of which 

130 



money was obtained to aid in the support of the minister and teacher 
of the plantation or township. 

Thus our forefathers recognized rehgion and education as founda- 
tion principles of the town and provided that both agencies should have 
a permanent place in the establishment of our free institutions. A Godly 
ministry and a free school were the grand agents which will stand as 
the monuments to the far-sighted wisdom of these early pioneers of 
Sowams. 

Whittier interpreted the thought of our Pilgrim sires in 

" OUR STATE " : 

" For well she keeps her ancient stock, 
The stubborn strength of Plymouth Rock ; 
And still maintains with milder laws, 
And clearer light, the Good Old Cause. 

" Nor heeds the sceptic's puny hands 
While near her school the church-spire stands ; 
Nor fears the blinded bigot's rule, 
While near her church-spire stands the school." 

As good settlers made good neighbors, the purchasers of Sowams 
lands were especially careful to select the best for this civil plantation 
and to ensure the preservation of the high quality of future inhabitants, 
the following agreement was entered into by the proprietors. It will 
be noticed that unanimous consent and not majority rule prevailed in 
that early day as to the admission of new inhabitants to the settlement. 

"Att agrPCttt^nt under ye hands of ten of the Proprietors in order 
to the settlement of the Lands aforesaid " 

Dated December 25 ; 1660 

"Wee whose names are here under written the proprietors of those 
Lands called and know by the name of Sawomes Lands doe unanimously 
and Joyntly binde our selves and covenant to perform these peticulr 

" I That none of us shall at anytime Let or sell any of the said 

131 



Lands to any stranger that is not already a proprietor with us without 
the Joynt Consent of us all subscribed under our hands vidt, neither 
upland nor meadow 

" 2 That Henry Smith of Rehoboth be the man to measure all 
Lands yt to be measured out and Appertaining unto any of us and that 
some two or thre of our selves are to be preasant with him to see it done 
" 3 That Thomas Willett by way of exchange is to have thirty 
Acres of upland measured out adjoyning unto the land of his formerly 
measured out by William Carpenter having the Towne fence on the 
North side and the Land of John Brown on the South Side and Mr 
Willet doth Leave the home Lot formerly Lay'd out for Elder Cushman 
in consideration of the same being of the quantity of thirty acres to 
Lye common amongst us " 

John Brown Peter Hunt 

Thomas Willett Henry Smith 

Stephen Paine Philip Walker 

Joseph Peck Thomas Chafey 

John Allen Samuel Newman 

®I|f Original l^rapxlttavB of ^omama 

Princes Hill, the crovming glory of Barrington rural scenery, bears 
and must ever honor the name of Thomas Prince, the first among the 
purchasers of Sowams of Massassoit in 1653. Governor Prince (Prence 
in old Mss. ) was one of the most honored founders of Plymouth Colony. 
Born about the year 1600, in Gloucestershire, England, and joining 
the Leyden Company, he arrived at Plymouth in the ship, Fortune, with 
Robert Cushman and thirty-four others in 162 1. In 1624, he married 
Patience, the daughter of Elder William Brewster, by whom they 'had 
six children. In 1635, he married 2nd, Mary Collier, who gave him 
four daughters. He married third, Mrs. Mary Freemen, daughter of 
Constant Southworth. He was active in all the affairs of the Colony, 
civil, religious and military, and was early chosen one of the Governor's 

133 



assistants. In 1634, he was chosen Governor. In 1635, he removed to 
Duxbury, thereby disqualifying himself for the office of Governor. In 
1638, the Colony so much desired his services that they suspended the 
rule of residence in Plymouth and elected him again Governor. From 
1657, he remained Governor by sixteen annual elections until his death 
in 1673. In 1665, h^ returned to Plymouth to live in the house the 
Colony had built expressly for the Governor. His administration was 
noted for legislation of great severity to the Quakers ; for serious dis- 
putes with the Indians; for his zealous and incessant efforts to estab- 
lish a system of common school education. He was intolerant and over- 
bearing in religious affairs and procured the removal of John Brown 
and others from the government on account of their liberal views, in 
advance of their age. 

His personal appearance was noble, dignified and commanding. The 
church records say, "He had a countenance full of Majesty." 

It is most fitting that the name of Governor Prince should be held 
in perpetual remembrance, in the very geographical centre of the town, 
by the hill and pond at its base, which bear his name. No nobler monu- 
ment could be erected to the first name among the purchasers of beau- 
tiful Sowams. 

2II|0maB Mtlbtt 

The name of worthy Thomas Willett is the second on the list 
of purchasers of Sowams. Mr. Willett was of English birth, a mer- 
chant by business, and became acquainted with the Pilgrims at Ley- 
den while travelling on business. On account of their mutual " good 
liking," he came to Plymouth in 1629, then a youth of nineteen. Such 
was the sobriety, fidelity, and business ability of young Willett that the 
Colony sent him in 1630, to superintend their trading houses in Maine, 
where he remained six years, returning to Plymouth in 1636 to marry 
Mary Brown, daughter of John Brown, then one of the Assistants in 
the government. 

In 1647, Mr. Willett was elected to succeed Myles Standish as Cap- 
tain at Plymouth. 

133 



In 165 1, he was elected an Assistant and continued in that office 
by annual election until 1665, a period of fourteen years, when he was 
compelled to resign an office which he had filled with great usefulness to 
the Colony and signal honor to himself. He was called, in 1664, to aid 
Col. Nichols in the surrender of New York to the English by the Dutch, 
as Capt. Willett was not only an able diplomat but a thorough master 
of the Dutch language and customs. So popular was he with both the 
English and the Dutch of Manhattan that he was chosen first Mayor of 
New York in 1665, and was re-elected in 1666. Captain Willett removed ^ 
to Wannamoisett about 1662, where he, with his family, resided until 
his death in 1674, near the residence of his father-in-law, Hon. 
John Brown. His landed estates were very large in Plymouth, Taun- 
ton, Rehoboth, Wannamoisett, Sowams, Attleboro, the Narragansett 
country, and other places. He was well acquainted with the Indians 
and was a leader in negotiations with their chiefs, and was probably the 
leading factor in the purchase of Sowams. He took a lively interest 
in religious affairs of the Colony and was a cofounder with Rev. John 
Myles of the town of Swansea and of the First Baptist church in Mas- 
sachusetts, not far from his own home. His ancient house at Wanna- 
moisett (now Riverside, R. I.) was a landmark of great historic interest 
until its destruction by fire in 1892. A photograph of the ancient chim- 
ney, built of the small Dutch bricks, stood as a monument to Capt. Willett 
until it was rebuilt in a new house on the same spot by Col. H. Anthony 
Dyer, about 1900. 

Thirteen children were born to Capt. Thomas and Mary (Brown) 
Willett. She died in 1669. Capt. Willett married 2nd, in 1671, Mrs. 
Joanna Prudden, widow of Rev. Peter Prudden, who died in 1679. 

Captain Willett and his two wives were buried at Little Neck Burial 
Ground, near Riverside, within his beloved Wannamoisett. His tomb- 
stone bears this inscription : 

" Who was the first Mayor of New York, 
And twice did sustain the place." 

»34 



Myles Standish, Gent, is the third name on the deed of Sowams. 
His is a name that thrills the nerves and quickens the blood, a name to 
conjure with. Standish was of noble blood, born in Lancashire, Eng- 
land, about 1584. He served in the Netherlands as a soldier and officer 
in the army of Queen Elizabeth, in command of the Earl of Leicester. 
He took up his residence among the Pilgrims at Ley den but never joined 
their church. Gov. Bradford in his catalogue of Mayflower pas- 
sengers names "Captain Myles Standish and Rose, his wife." Rose died 
among the first, in that awful winter of 1621. By a 2d wife, Barbara, 
who probably came in the Ann, 1623, he became the father of six children, 
Alexander, Myles, Josiah, Charles, Sarah, and John, who have left a 
large descent. Standish was elected captain of the military arm of the 
Colony in 1621, by the first democratic majority vote ever cast for an 
officer in the Colony. He went out as the agent of the Colony to Eng- 
land in 1625, and was in London, "When the pride of this queen of 
cities was laid in the dust," by the plague. Being an accurate surveyor, 
he was generally on all committees for laying new towns, in all of 
which he had landed interests. He was alwa3^s military commander 
and one of the Council of War ; sometimes, deputy Governor and Treas- 
urer. Though a man of small stature, he met enemies of all sorts, " with- 
out fear and with a manly heart." His intrepid spirit, and quick and 
fiery temper, compelled him to deeds from which most men would shrink. 
He asked only eight men to subdue all the Indians of Massachusetts. 
Alone, he wrested from the wretched Morton the loaded rifle, whose 
contents were meant for his life, and often met in deadly conflicts those 
whose prowess excited him to almost superhuman acts. " How this 
fierce and terrible soldier, never cherishing any strong impressions of 
religion, should have formed an attachment so lasting, and bound him- 
self to the pious and holy members of Robinson's Church, by every tie 
except that which bound them to each other; and how he should have 
fought their battles, cheerfully shared their toils, their hardships, and 
their poverty, their councils in peace and their dangers in war, is one 
of those anomalies in human nature which may perhaps find its parallel 

135 



in the love which was cherished by the Roman soldier for the early 
Christians," says Francis Baylies. 

Myles Standish was the father and founder of the town of Dux- 
bury, named from the seat of his family, which as late as 1707, was the 
residence of Sir Thomas Standish. He died Oct. 3, 1656, age 72. A 
granite monument of colossal height is erected in Duxbury as a measure 
and declaration of his fame. Longfellow's poem, "The Courtship of 
Myles Standish," will contribute to his earthly immortality. His Bar- 
rington estate was at Nayatt which will some day bear some monument 
to his memory as a Proprietor of Sowams. 

Edward Winslow, founder, diplomat, statesman, historian, came in 
the Mayflower, in 1620. He was the son of Edward Winslow, and was 
born at Worcestershire, England, in 1594. Travelling in the Nether- 
lands, he was sympathetically drawn to the Pilgrims at Leyden, embraced 
their principles and joined Robinson's Church. He married Elizabeth 
Barker at Leyden, 1618, and brought her with him to Plymouth, where 
she died in the winter of 162 1. He then married Mrs. Susanna White, 
whose husband also had died the same winter. This marriage, which 
took place, May 12th, 1621, was the first in the Colony and also the 
first in New England. It was a singular honor that fell to Mrs. Winslow 
that she should have been the mother of the first white child born in 
New England, Peregrine White, one of the first widows, the first bride 
the wife of a distinguished Governor of her own Colony, and the mother 
of a son, Josiah Winslow, who was the first governor in New England, 
born on its soil. He added to this high office, the high and solitary honor 
of being the commander in chief of the forces of the Confederated 
Colonies in Philip's war. 

In 1623 Mr. Winslow went to England as agent of the Colony and 
published the first narrative of their transactions in New England. In 
1624, he returned to Plymouth bringing the first neat cattle imported 
into the Colonies. 

136 



In 1633, he was elected Governor ; again in 1636 and again in 1644. 
In 1643, he was elected one of the first commissioners of Plymouth 
Colony in the Confederation. His relation with the Indians was always 
cordial and conciliatory. His visits to Massassoit are narrated in 
another chapter. He was the founder of Marshfield, and his large estate 
called Careswell may be still in the possession of his descendants. Gov- 
ernor Winslow was a born diplomat,— wise, virtuous, courteous, adroit, 
sincere, faithful. He was a strong pillar in the Pilgrim State. He died 
at sea, May 8, 1655. His sons, John and Knelm, were copartners with 
their father in the Sowams propriety. 

3/nfitaf| UtttBlnui 

Josiah Winslow, son of Edward and Susanna (White) Winslow, 
was born in New England, 1629, and died in Marshfield in 1689, having 
attained the highest honors of Colonial times. He was for several years 
Deputy to the Plymouth Court from Marshfield. In 1657, he was 
elected Assistant and in 1659, chief military commander for the Colony. 
He was a valued Commissioner for many years and Governor from 
the death of Governor Prince in 1673 to 1680. 

As Governor and General in Chief, he commanded the Confederated 
forces and directed the campaign in Philip's war. In this contest, 
the supremacy of the white race had been settled before his death, and 
in it " Governor Winslow had been a principal and triumphant actor. 
In his native colony he had stood upon the uppermost height of society. 
Civic honors awaited him in his earliest youth; he reached every eleva- 
tion which could be attained, and there was nothing left for ambition 
to covet, for all had been gained." 

Mr. Winslow married Penelope, daughter of Herbert Pelham, in 
165 1 ; EHzabeth was born in 1664, Edward, 1667, and Isaac, 1670. 

Htlltam ?8ra6forIi 

To Rhode Islanders, and more especially to the citizens of Bristol 
County, the name of William Bradford is more familiar than either of 

137 



the Plymouth Governors, for the reason that the Bradford family was 
transplanted to Bristol in the early days of the Colony and still retains 
its honored and honorable name in that town. 

William Bradford was born in Austerfield, Yorkshire, England, in 
1589. His patrimony was large, but his station was that of a yeoman 
and he was taught agriculture. He was a close Bible student in youth 
and became a devoted Pilgrim and follower of John Robinson. Going 
to Holland, he learned the art of silk dyeing and engaged in commerce. 
He was a leader in the migration to America and came in the May- 
flower, 1620, with his wife, Dorothy May, leaving behind his son, John, 
who came later. His wife was drowned in Provincetown Harbor, before 
the landing at Plymouth. He married, in 1623, Alice Southworth, 
widow of Edward Southworth, to whom were born four children, 
William, Mary, Benjamin and Joseph. Mrs. Alice Bradford is said 
to have been " a lady of extraordinary capacity and worth." On the 
death of the first Governor Carver, in 1621, Mr. Bradford was elected 
Governor unanimously, and was continued in office by annual election 
for thirty-seven years (with the exception of two years of Governor 
Prince and one of Edward Winslow) until his death in 1657, at the 
age of 69 years. He managed the affairs of Plymouth Colony with 
consummate skill, prudence and ability. His Indian policy was mild but 
energetic. When the Narragansetts sent a bundle of arrows wrapped 
in the skin of a serpent, he answered the challenge by sending back 
the skin filled with powder and bullets. The Indians were taught to 
believe that the dreadful plague was buried under the storehouse at 
Plymouth. 

Governor Bradford was a scholar in the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew 
languages, and spoke Dutch and French with ease. He was well read 
in history, philosophy and theology. The Bradford history of Plymouth 
Colony is authority. Governor Bradford, a great man of his own time, 
would have been a commanding figure in any age, and to his wisdom 
and sagacity, his firmness and gentleness, and withal a refined Christian 
character may be credited the peaceful and progressive years of the 
infant Colony. His relations with Massassoit were always cordial and 

138 



helpful and the two governments, the savage and Pilgrim, lived in 
neighborly amity and mutual advantage, for nearly 40 years under the 
same personal heads, Bradford and Massassoit. His last words were, 
" God has given me a pledge of my happiness in another world, and 
the first fruits of eternal glory." Alice Bradford, widow of the Governor, 
died March 26, 1670, aged 80 years. 

3loI|tt AbantH 

John Adams, another of the Sowams propriety, came in the ship 
Fortune, 162 1, with Governor Prince, and married Eleanor Newton, 
who came in the Ann, in 1623. Their children were James, John, and 
Susanna. His sons married and settled in Marshfield, Mass. 

Olljomaa (EuHljman 

Elder Thomas Cushman, successor to Brewster as ruling elder of 
the Colony, was the son of Robert Cushman, and came to Plymouth in 
1622. He married Mary Allerton, 1636, daughter of Isaac Allerton, 
and had eight children. A son, Thomas, b. 1637, married in 1664, Ruth 
Howland, daughter of John Howland, from w^hom a number of Bar- 
rington families have descended. The following inscription is on the 
Cushman monument on Burial Hill : 

" Here lieth buried the body of that precious servant of God, Mr. 
Thomas Cushman, who after he had served his generation according 
to the will of God, and particularly the Church of Plymouth for many 
years in the office of ruling elder, fell asleep in Jesus, Dec. loth, 1691, 
and in the 84th year of his age." 

MtUtam Wl}\U 

William White, son probably of Bishop White, of England, was 
married in Leyden, 1612, to Anna, sister of Samuel Fuller, (always called 
Susanna). His wife and son Resolved, b. 161 5, came in the Mayflower, 
Their son. Peregrine, born on board the Mayflower in Provincetown 

139 



Harbor, was the first white child born in New England. William White 
died of the dreadful distemper that reduced the Mayflower Pilgrims 
nearly one-half, that first sorrowful winter. Mrs. White married Ed- 
ward Winslow, May, 162 1, and, as stated elsewhere, the first mother 
and widow became the first bride in New England, and the children. 
Resolved and Peregrine, became a part of the Edward Winslow family. 
In the Sowams purchase. Resolved and Peregrine became proprietors 
in their father's right, as will be seen in the Records. 

aII|omaB Qllark 

Thomas Clark came in the Ann, 1623, and married Susanna Ring 
before 1634. He was a Deputy from Plymouth, 165 1 and 1655, attended 
the royal commissioners to New York in 1665, and was the owner of 
a half share in Sowams. Mr. Clark died in 1697, aged 98 years. It has 
long been supposed that Mr. Clark was mate of the Mayflower, but this 
is not historically established. 

The persons already named and noted are all of the original pro- 
prietors in the first agreement made the seventh month, 1652, and include 
all the names of the grantees in the Grand Deed of 1653. In the second 
agreement, under date of March 11, 1653, the name of John Brown 
appears, as it also does with James Brown and Richard Garrett, as wit- 
nesses to the signatures of Osamequin and Wamsetto to the Grand Deed, 
March twentieth, 1653. Between the date of purchase, 1653, and Decem- 
ber 25, 1660, the original proprietors had divided and had sold, in whole 
or in part, their Sowams lands to the following persons: John Brown, 
Thomas Willett, Stephen Paine, Joseph Peck, John Allen, Peter Hunt, 
Henry Smith, Philip Walker, Thomas Chaffee, and Samuel Newman. 
Of these ten proprietors, one, Thomas Willett, was named as a grantee 
in the Grand Deed. John Brown is named in the second agreement 
before the purchase and hence may be included in the original proprietors. 
To those familiar with Rehoboth history, the ten names are well 
known, for John Brown and Edward Winslow, as agents, purchased 
(Seaconck) Rehoboth of Osamequin in 1641. The names of Mr. Henry 

140 



Smith, Mr. Joseph Peck, Mr. Stephen Paine, and Rev. Samuel Newman, 
also appear among the grantees of the Rehoboth Patent, in 1641 ; in 1643, 
we find the names of Peter Hunt and John Allen ; in 1655, that of Phillip 
Walker, and Thomas Willett appear, while the name of Thomas Chaffee 
belongs of right to Sowams. With the exception of Winslow and Chaffee, 
all the others were founders, and large land owners in Rehoboth. Bliss' 
History of Rehoboth and the Proprietors' Records locate their lands, 
their homes, and give their history as related to the life of this ancient 
town. 

John Brown and Thomas Willett, his son-in-law, lived at Wanna- 
moisett, a large tract of land purchased by Mr. Brown, in 1645. The 
career of Mr. Brown was of great moment to Plymouth Colony. He 
became associated with the Pilgrims at Leyden and came to America 
prior to 1634, for he was elected a freeman that year, and in 1636 an 
Assistant in the General Court, an office held by annual election for 
seventeen years. His son, James, was admitted a freeman in 1636. 
Mr. Brown was a grand pioneer in the settlement of most of the towns 
west of Plymouth. He was a purchaser of Taunton, 1637, and removed 
there about 1640. In 1641, he was one of the Rehoboth purchasers, 
and the largest land owner, to the value of i6oo. 

In December, 1645, Mr. Brown removed to Wannamoisett, and 
his son, in 1647, and his son-in-law, Willett, later. He was an influential 
citizen of Rehoboth, and was a cofounder with Myles and Willett, of 
Swansea. Mr. Brown was a commissioner from Plymouth Colony in 
the New England Confederacy for twelve years, from 1643. He was 
a wise and faithful magistrate, liberal in religious views, objecting to the 
law that compelled taxation of the people to support the Gospel. 

Mr. Brown died at Wannamoisett, (Swansea), within the limits of 
Sowams, April 10, 1662, and is probably buried in the family burial 
ground at Little Neck. (See Bicknell's History of Barrington). 

From 1660, the ownership and management of the Sowams pro- 
priety was in the hands of the proprietors of Rehoboth and Wanna- 
moisett. -John Brown, of Wannamoisett, was proprietors' clerk. Henry 
Smith, of Rehoboth, v/as surveyor to run lines, set bounds and describe 



141 



the several lay-outs of lots, roads, meadows, etc. Chachapacassett Neck 
was laid out and allotted to Samuel Newman and partners, Nathaniel 
Paine and partners, John Allen, Nathaniel Peck, Israel Peck, James 
Brown, Lieut. Peter Hunt, John Saffin and John Brown. John Saffin 
lived in Boston at this time. All the others lived in Rehoboth except 
John and James Brown, who dwelt at Wannamoisett. 

In 1679, the home lots at Popanomscutt, or Phebe's Neck, were 
drawn by Lieut. Peter Hunt, Stephen Paine, John Saffin of Boston, 
Thomas Chaffee, Samuel Newman and partners, James Brown, and John 
Brown, Capt. Willett's heirs and Israel Peck and partners, all residents 
of Reihoboth, except Chaffee, who lived in Sowams. 

The great lots on Popanomscutt fell in order to Lieut. Peter Hunt, 
Thomas Chaffee, John Allen, Nathaniel Peck, Samuel Newman, Stephen 
Paine, John Saffin, James and John Brown. The same Rehoboth owner- 
ship existed as to great lots as to home lots. John Allen, of Rehoboth, 
owned the land from Barrington bridge to Scamscammuck Spring. Rev. 
Samuel Newman, Nathaniel and Israel Peck, of Rehoboth, owned the 
land from Hides Hole, or Chachapacassett, towards Nayatt. John and 
James Brown, of Wannamoisett, owned the whole of Nayatt Point. 
William Allen, of Prudence Island, owned the lands from Mouscochuck 
to Annawomscutt Creeks. 

A detailed description of all the uplands, fresh and salt meadows, 
etc., their bounds, subdivisions, owners, etc., will be found in the Sowams 
Records. 

d^mdf Potttts ta (^rmh 'B^tt of ^amwna 

This deed contains two important divisions. I. The Deed of 
" Sowams." II. The Deed of Parts Adjacent. Let the student read 
the description of the lands conveyed with these two properties distinctly 
in mind. 

First. The deed of Sowams includes "all the severall parcells and 
necks of upland, Swamps, and Meadows, on the South side of Sink- 
hunch, Etc., Rehoboth bounds," between the Sowams and Patuxet 
Rivers, with an Indian reservation on Chachacust (or New Meadow) 

142 



Neck, to belong to the proprietors, " when soever the Indians shall remove 
from the Neck." The bounds are given in the Grand Deed and the 
description of Sowams is found between the words " All those severall," 
etc., and the words " The neck called by the Indians Chachacust." This 
part of the deed quitclaims all the territory, upland, swamp and meadows. 
" The Parts Adjacent " include all the meadows, salt or fresh, " being 
in or about Popasquash Neck as also the meadow lyeing from Kicko- 
muet on both sides or any way Joyning to it on the bay on each side." 

This part of the deed conveys no uplands or swamps ; only salt and 
fresh meadows. Let the reader now refer to the description of the layout 
and bounds of "The Parts Adjacent," under "Devition of Salt and 
Fresh Meadows," in the Book of Records, and it will be found that the 
bounds on the land side in each case is " so far up as the moable land 
lyeth as stated in the Grand Deed of Saile." 

Salt and fresh meadows, in the absence of cultivated English glasses, 
were a valuable asset to the early and the later settlers, even to the pres- 
ent time. Rehoboth had taken possession of the salt meadows at " The 
Tongue," at Chachapacassett and Nayatt, and the meadows on the 
Kickemuit and about Consumpsit Neck, although at a distance, were 
necessary for the support of neat cattle and horses in the new settlement 
at Sowams. 

// cannot be too strongly stated that the Grand Deed of Massassoit 
of id^^t did not convey one solitary foot of upland above the bounds of 
salt and fresh meadows, in that section known as " Parts Adjacent," 
viz: Kickemuit and Popasquash Neck and the bays on both sides. Mount 
Hope or Consumpsit Neck was an Indian Reservation and could not be 
sold, until its forfeiture as conquered territory, and in the Grand Deed 
of the Mt. Hope Lands to John Walley, Nathaniel B>'field, Stephen 
Burton and Nathaniel Oliver. Sept. 14, 1680, the following reservation 
is made, "excepting only and reserving the Lands formerly granted to 
the inhabitants of Swansey, according to the lines already run at the 
north end or entrance of said Neck, ******* and the 
Meadows formerly purchased of the Indians ;"**** 

" The lands formerly granted to Swansey," referred to, was the upper 

143 



end of Mount Hope Neck, now Warren, deeded to Swansea by Totomom- 
mucke in 1673. 

" The Meadows formerly purchased of the Indians," were the salt 
and fresh meadows already mentioned as "Parts Adjacent." 

Another significant pointer is this : All the proprietors save one, John 
Saffin, of Boston, later of Bristol, resided in Barrington, Rehoboth or 
ancient Swansea. In proof of this statement, reference is made to Bliss's 
History of Rehoboth and Bicknell's History of Barrington. 

The fourth pointer is the fact that highways were laid out on Popa- 
nomscutt or Phebes Neck and home lots, pastors' lots, teachers' lots were 
laid out in the early history of Sowams. 

The fifth pointer is that Sowams was called Swansea : " The Court 
doe alow and approve that the township granted unto Captaine Willett 
and others his naighbours (Sowams) att Wannamoisett and places 
adjacent, Shall henceforth be called and Knowne by the name of Swan- 
sey." (Plymouth 5 March 1667-8 Prence Govr) 

In 1673, Swansea established a school " for the teaching of Cram- 
mer Rhetoric and Arithmetic And the tongues of Latin Greek and 
Hebrew Also to read English and to Write," and Rev. John Myles was 
the first schoolmaster. The location of the children and the schools tell 
where the people lived. The schools were opened at Wannamoisett, on 
New Meadow Neck, on Kickamuit Neck, at Bartrums and at Matta- 
poisett. 

The First Baptist Meeting House was built on Nockum Hill, mid- 
way between Wannamoisett, and Myles Bridge and Garrison on New 
Meadow Neck, and the second was built on New Meadow Neck on Tyler's 
Point, which, says Tustin, was called " The Place of Trade." Reho- 
both began its settlement at what is now Rumford, in 1643. Wanna- 
moisett followed with Hon. John Brown and Captain Thomas Willett; 
then the coming of Rev. John Myles and the Baptists at and about Myles' 
home and Garrison at Barneysville ; and from thence the whole of the 
two peninsulas of Sowams became peopled. A study of the Sowams 
Records and the histories of Rehoboth, Swansea and Barrington with 
these points of view will enable the student to reach a just conclusion 
as to the location of Sowams which will be discussed in the next chapter. 

144 




"l^iccm (-ir-i^tvAlA 




■^•zaJ~?2^ 






' 



CKypnt 



rS 




o "wy ^^cJ^iT" 






(>4iY^ 



^iy 



AUTOGRAPHS OF SOME SOWAMS PROPRIETORS AND OTHERS 



^ammna T^ropvxBtara anl) (§f&tsvB of l&staxh 



William Bradford 
Edward Winslow 
ThcHTias Cushman 
Thomas Qarke 
Thomas Willett 
Myles Standish 
Resolved White 
John Brown 
Joseph Peck 
Peter Hunt 
Philip Walker 
Samuel Newman 
Nicholas Peck 
John Saffin 
James Brown 
Anthony Low 
Joseph Chaffee 
Jonathan Bosworth 
Samuel Walker 
Daniel Smith 
Noah Floyd 
Joshua Smith 
Robert Millard 
Eliakim Hutchinson 
John Butterworthi 
John Paine 
John Dixey 
Thomas Barnes 
WilHam Ingraham 
Thomas Guinn 
Jonathan Viall 
Daniel Allen 



Benjamin Viall 
Samuel Brown 
Thomas Turner 
Samuel Humphrey 
James Smith 
Ebenezer Allen 
William Cobb 
Nathaniel Peck, Jr 
Matthew Allin 
Benjamin Brown 
Daniel Brown 
Jabez Brown 
Joseph Chaffee 
James Bicknell 
Hezekiah Chaffee 
Joseph Wheaton 
Daniel Hunt 
Solomon Peck 
Samuel Viall 
Solomon Townsend 
Henry Bowen 
Jesse Brown 
Elkanah Humphrey 
Ebenezer Peck 
Allen Viall 
Ezra Kent, Jr. 
John R. Richmond 
Thomas Prince 
John Adams 
John Winslow 
Experience Mitchell 
William White 



Knelm Winslow 
Peregrine White 
Stephen Paine 
John Allen 
Henry Smith 
Thomas Chaffee 
Josiah Winslow 
Richard Brown 
Nathaniel Paine 
Israel Peck 
Nathaniel Chaffee 
Stephen Paine, Jr. 
Nathaniel Peck 
Abraham Perren 
John Viall 
William Allin 
Samuel Peck 
Richard Whitaker 
John Medbury 
Benjamin Paine 
John Allen, Jun. 
Andrew Willett 
Joseph Kent 
Richard Ingraham 
Benjamin Pemberton 
Bamfield Capron 
Deacon Newman 
Samuel Low 
Simon Davis 
Josiah Turner 
John Chaffee 
Ebenezer Tiffany 



145 



Zachariah Bicknell Samuel Allen Josiah Humphrey 
ObadiahBettis( Pettis?) Recompense Tiffany William Hunt 

John Baker Charles Brown Nathaniel Heath 

Thomas Hill Peter Brown John Humphrey 

Samuel Barnes Thomas Allin Solomon Peck, Jr. 

Joseph Brown Joshua Bicknell Jacob Chandler 

Isaac Brown Nathaniel Viall Oliver Brown 

Of the one hundred and seventeen proprietors, whose names appear 
in the Sowams Records, only one lived outside the bounds of Barrington, 
Rehoboth and Swansea. That was John Saffin, of Boston, son-in-law of 
Capt. Thomas Willett. He was later a citizen of Bristol, R. I. Most 
were residents of what is now Barrington and East Providence. Warren 
had not a single proprietor. 

OMIrera of % ^omama ^Propn^targ 

As has been seen, the proprietors were, with one exception, residents 
of Sowams or Swansea, and Rehoboth, the territory now occupied by 
Barrington, East Providence, Seekonk, Rehoboth, and old Swansea. 
The officers, however, all lived west of the Sowams River, in what is 
now Barrington, East Providence and Seekonk. 

The first proprietors' Clerk was Hon. John Brown, who lived at 
Wannamoisett, now East Providence. His successors, until 1710, are 
not a matter of record. 

Aug. 30, 1710, Benjamin Viall, of Wannamoisett, was clerk. 

April I, 1730, Samuel Allen, of Barrington, was moderator. 

March 13, 1750- 1, Matthew Allin, of Barrington, was both moderator 
and clerk. 
^ April I, 1 75 1, Capt. Joseph Wheaton, of Rehoboth, was moderator, 
and Nathaniel Viall, of Wannamoisett, was clerk. 

April 30, 1753, Capt. Daniel Hunt, of Rehoboth, (now East Provi- 
dence), was moderator, and Nathaniel Viall, clerk. 

May 30, 1774, Thomas Allin was clerk and held the office until the 

146 






'^/ i/rf 




{Kfh^a. /^Uy^a^ 




^^ 



AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURES OF A NUMBER OF THE SOWAMS 
I'ROPRIETORS AND OTHERS 



last record in the book over his signature, March i6, 1797. His resi- 
dence still stands at West Barrington. 

Solomon Townsend, town clerk of Barrington, was the moderator 
of the last recorded meeting of the proprietors, which was held at the 
house of Judge Elkanah Humphrey, of Barrington. This house stood 
at the corner, on the middle highway, about 100 rods south of the resi- 
dence of Fed. S. Peck, Esq. 

A photograph of the last page of Mss., containing the record of 
the last meeting of the Sowams Proprietors, will be found on another page. 



M7 



CHAPTER IV 

SOWAMS 




PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE COMMITTEE OF TWENTY CITIZENS OF 

HARRINGTON, ON THE HARRINGTON CENTENNIAL, JUNE, 1870, 

INCLUDING THE POET, HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH 



^nmamfi 



(S 



OVERNOR Bradford wrote that after the first interview 
with Massassoit at Plymouth, March, 162 1, that the Sachem 
" returned to his place, called Sowams, some 40 miles from 
this place." All authorities agree that the chief's home was 
at Sowams. A careful measurement between Plymouth, 
by way of the fording place at the Weirs, on the Taunton River, and 
the Pawtucket River or Sowams Bay on the west, makes the distance from 
Plymouth to Ancient Sowams exactly forty miles. 

As the Indian names, Sowams and Pokanoket are used interchange- 
ably in the older records and the patents of 1620 and 1629, some con- 
fusion has arisen as to the territorial value of the two names. It is 
now generally conceded that Sowams was a well-known Indian village 
or section of a larger territory known as Pokanoket, although in the 
first official map of the towns of the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- 
dence Plantations, made in 1721, fifty years after Philip's war and the 
extinction of the Wampanoags as a tribe, the term "Sowamsett alias 
Pokanoket," is used and located in Barrington as will be seen with refer- 
ence to a photographic reproduction of a part of this valuable map, 
which the reader is asked to study. 

Prior to 1644, a difference existed between the Massachusetts and 
Plymouth colonies as to the colonial jurisdiction of Seekonk, each claim- 
ing it. The Plymouth people showed the commissioners the Plymouth 
Patent, " By which it appeareth that a countrey or place called Poccan- 
ekuck (Als) Sewamsett is granted unto them. The commissioners not 
conceiving that the clause (als) Sewamsett as there expressed should 
streaten their limmits and improving an opportunitie of the Narrohi- 
gansett. Deputies now present do find Secunck clearely within the lim- 
mits so graunted to New Plymouth." The English of which was that 
in the minds of these officials Pokanoket was a larger territory than 
Sowams, and that it included the Seekonk purchase. According to this 

151 



decision it also covered the North Purchase (Attleboro and Cumberland) 
made later by Thomas Willett. On the other hand, Pokanoket included 
Consumpsit Neck (Bristol) according to the commissioners who consid- 
ered the boundary line between Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 1741 
(June 30) . They say : " The place where the Indians called Philip 
lived near Bristol, was called Paucanoket, and another place near Swan- 
sey was called Sowams or Sowamsett." The truth of the matter probably 
is that Sowams stood relatively to Pokanoket as Barring^on does to 
Bristol County, with the addition of the towns of East Providence, R. I., 
and Seekonk, Mass. A careful study of what follows will enable us 
to understand what and where Sowams was. 

The first patent granted to the Plymouth Planters, viz., John Carver, 
Will Bradford, Edw. Winslow and others, by King James, in 1620, the 
eighteenth year of his reign, all that part of New England in America 
that lies between the Cohasset River on the North, the Narragansett 
River on the South, the Atlantic Ocean on the East " and extending up 
into the mainland towards the West from the mouth of said River called 
Narragansett River to the utmost limits and bownds of a countrey or 
place in New England called Pokenacutt als Puckenakick als Sawaamset 
westward and another like strait line extending itselfe directly from the 
mouth of the said River called Coahassett als Conahasset towards the 
West so far up into the maine land westward as the utmost limits of 
the said place or countrey commonly called Pokenacutt als Puckenakick 
als Sawaamset doe extend together." 

The second patent given by Qiarles First, dated Jan. 13, 1629, affirms 
the patent of 1620, the patent reading " to the utmost limitts and bounds 
of a country or place in New Englande called Pokenacutt alias Sowam- 
sett westward," etc. 

Both patents agree in the declaration that " Pokenacutt alias Sowam- 
sett," was situated on " Narragansett River " or Bay, and that it occu- 
pied the tract in the northwestern section of the Plymouth patent with 
the western boundary line up the middle of Narragansett River intersect- 
ing the northern boundary line extending westward from the middle of 
the Cohasset River. In other words, Pokenacutt alias Sowamsett, was 

15a 



the western and northwestern section of Plymouth Colony and was 
bounded on the west by " Narragansett River " or Bay, and on the north 
by Massachusetts Bay Colony territory. 

The original patent declared Sowaamset (So warns) to be located on 
Narragansett Bay and that it was the western and northwestern bound 
of Plymouth. It was the most natural thing that the Bay on the west 
of Sowams should take the name of the country on its shores. This 
fact appears in the deed of Shawomet, (Warwick), to Randall Holden, 
John Greene, Samuel Gorton and others, from Miantonomi, under date 
of January 12, 1642. 

" Know all men ; that I, Myantonomy, Cheefe Sachem of the Nan- 
heggansett, have sould unto the persons heare named, one parsell of 
lands with all the rights and privileges thereoff whatsoever, lying uppon 
the west syde of that part of the sea called Sowhomes Bay, from Copas- 
sanatuxett, over against a little island in the sayd Bay, being the North 
bounds, and the outmost point of that neck of land called Shawhomett, 
being the South bounds, ffrom the sea shore of each boundary upon a 
straight lyne westward twentie miles." Miantonomi, chief of the Narra- 
gansetts, is authority for the statement that that part of Narragansett 
Bay, north of Prudence Island to Pomham Rock in Providence River, 
was called Sowams Bay. 

With Sowams Bay extending to Prudence and to the south end of 
Warwick Neck, it is evident that the Sowams River flowed into Sowams 
Bay. As the Narragansett country gave the name to the Bay that washed 
its eastern shores, so Sowams gave its name to the River that flowed 
along its eastern boundary and the Bay that formed its southern and 
western limits. The historian of the Memoirs of Plymouth Colony, 
Francis Baylies, a native of Dighton, Mass., one of the most thorough 
students of local history of the last century, locates Sowams in ancient 
Swansea, near the present town of Warren. 

A claim was made by Gen. Guy M. Fessenden that Warren was a 
part of ancient Sowams and that Massassoit lived on the site of that 
village. Following his opinion, later writers without study have fallen 
into the same grave mistake. Four reasons have led up to this error. 

153 



The first and most important is that the deed of Massassoit to Governor 
Bradford and others dated March, 1653, describing the limits and bounds 
of Sowams was not known to the writers. Another is that the Sowams 
Records, locating and describing the lands of the Sowams Purchase, have 
not been known to the public, having never seen the light until their 
publication in this volume, and to which reference is made. Another 
reason exists in the fact that for twenty-four years (1746-1770) Har- 
rington and Warren were one town, under the name of Warren, hence 
events and local references to Barrington would be known as in Warren. 
Perhaps the most convincing argument which excludes Warren from 
consideration as having any claim to Sowams, and not being included 
in the Massassoit deed of 1653, is found in a most important document 
which has had slight public consideration. It seems that the territory 
now known as Warren was owned by an Indian named Totomommucke, 
and others, prior to 1673. (See Plymouth Records, vol. ix, pp. 16, 17, 
28, 29). On May 8th, 1673, Totomommucke and his associates sold to 
the town of Swansea all that tract of land lying between the main part 
of Mount Hope Neck on the south, Sowams River on the west, the old 
lines of Swansea on the north, and easterly by some line within what 
was once known as Shawomet. The controversy between Plymouth 
Colony and Swansea, which continued for about two years, related to 
the right of sale of certain Indian lands at Shawomet to help in paying 
the great cost of Philip's war, Swansea, claiming, and maintaining her 
claim, that the Colonial Treasurer, Constant Southworth, had sold a part 
of the territory, which the town had bought of Totomommucke. The 
papers here printed show conclusively that Warren was a part of the 
Totomommucke purchase. 

^mattBra us. Iplgmoutl; 

IN RE LANDS NOW WARREN 

The following from Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. VII, pp. 16, 17 
and 28, 29, sets at rest the debate whether Warren was included in the 
Sowams Purchase. 

154 



"A WvititiQ Kppa'mUh to bt IS^ttovhsh" 

" There haueing bine som controversy between the collonie and the 
towne of Swansey respecting a sale of lands made by Mr. Constant 
Southworth, Treasurer, to Josiah Winslow, Esq, Walter Briggs, John 
Williams, Capt Fuller, and others, called the Showamett Purchase, the 
town of Swansey aforesaid claiming a considerable pte of those lands 
soe sold by vertue of a deed obtained of Totomomucke and others 
bearing date of the eight of May, 1673, it is agreed between the Generall 
Court, held by adjournment July the first, 1679, in behalfe of the collonie 
of New Plymouth, on the one pte, and Mr Samuel Luther, agent for 
the town of Swansey and on theire behalfe on the other pte, as a full 
and final issue of the aboue mensioned difference, that the collonie of 
New Plymouth aforesaid shall and heerby doe agree and graunt to and 
with the towne of Swansey, that they shall haue and for euer enjoy 
those lands that lye to the southward of theire old line vntill it comes 
within twenty rodds of Kekamuett Springe, which is the enterance of 
Mount Hope Necke, and what distance it is by measure from the 
station to direct a line quite ouer or crosse the necke, or take- 
ing twenty rodds att the head of the said spring northerly, and those 
stations to make or direct the line crosse the necke, the collonie makeing 
theire choise which of those lands shall stand, all the lands lyeing on 
the northerly syde of the line, and soe home to Swanseys former bounds, 
to be and for euer belonge unto the towne of Swansey ; and in considera- 
tion thereof, the said towne of Swansey shall and heerby and doe quitt 
claime to the rest of the lands of Mount Hope on the southerly syde of the 
above mensioned line, and doe resigne up unto the collonie or purchasers 
of Showamett lands the deeds aboue mensioned obtained of Totoma- 
mucke, &c, and quitt claime vnto all the lands therin contained or men- 
sioned In witnesse wherof, the Secretary, in the behalfe of the collonie, 
and Samuel Luther, agent for the towne of Swansey, in theire behalfe, 
haue heervnto subscribed 

NATHANIELL MORTON, Secretary 
The marke of (X) SAMUELL LUTHER 

Agent for the towne of Swansey 
Plymouth, the fift of July, 1679 



158 



Nouember the first, 1679 

" This Court doth order and appoint John Richmond, Mr, Nicholas 
Pecke, and William Carpenter, to run the line between the countryes 
land att Mount Hope and the town of Swansey, and incase of failer of 
any of the three, that then Encrease Robenson be improued in his stead, 
and that the record of Court heerwith sent, respecting that matter 
aboue said, to be the rule by which they are to proceed therin ; the psons 
aboue appointed are to meet about the expedition on Wednesday, the 25th 
of this instant Nouember 

" The proceedings and actings of this committee, in running of the 
said line, is as followeth: — 

" The line of the old fence two degrees and an halfe, to the north of 
the west; then we measured from the mouth of Keekamuett Springe 
twenty rodds three degrees to the eastward of the north, and the fence 
att the head of the said springe, and sett upp a white oake stake stand- 
ing, at the extent of each 20 rodds, and raised vpp a heap of stones about 
each stake 

" When we found the range a crosse the necke to be a point and a 
halfe to the northward of the west, and the line run by bound trees, 
vntill it comes to the west syde of the said necke, to a smale red oake 
bowe, where wee raised an heape of stones, and marked both the avoue 
sail stakes and the bowe with S on the north syde, and C on the south 
syde 

" This was pformed on the day prefixed by the Court, as was by 
them ordered, by vs, which was appointed therin 

" These may signify that wee, Nathaniel Pecke, John Richmond, and 
Encrease Robinson, did run the line aboue mensioned according to Court 
order, and Mr Willam Ingram, Mr. Hugh Cole, and Obadiah Bowin, 
appointed by the towne of Swansey, did joyne with vs in runing the said 
line 

" The bill of charges of the committee first aboue mensioned Wee 
were out three days, and our expenses was in all fifteen shillings in 
money " 

The deed of Totommomucke and the adjustment of the land dif- 

156 



ference with the Colony transferred to Swansea that portion of Mount 
Hope Neck, now known as Warren. We have considered the evidence 
of the patents of Plymouth Colony as related to Sowams, showing it to 
be in the northwestern part of the Colonial grant. Miantonomi testifies 
that the Bay that washed its western shores was called Sowams, 
(Sowhomes). Consumpsit Neck, alias Mount Hope Neck, nine and 
one-half miles long, was, according to Gov. Winslow, made a per- 
manent Indian reservation. Seekonk, alias Rehoboth, was sold by 
Massassoit in 1641 to John Brown, Edward Winslow and others, and 
as we have seen, the territory of Warren was sold in 1673 to the town 
of Swansea. There remains only the territory which was assigned to 
the first comers by the Plymouth Court by patent dated March 2, 1 640-1, 
given to William Bradford, his heirs, associates and assigns, and described 
as follows : 

" The third place from Sowamsett River to Patucquett River, with 
Consumpsit Neck, wch is the chief habitacon of the Indians and reserved 
for them to dwell upon extending into the land eight miles through the 
whole breadth thereof, together with such other small parcells of lands 
as they or any of them are psonally possessed of or interested in by 
virtue of any former titles or grants whatsoever." 

This territory was called by Capt. Myles Standish " The garden of 
the Plymouth Patent and the flour of the garden." Gov. Bradford wrote 
that " Squanto commends Pokanoket, (including Sowams), for the rich- 
est soil and much open ground for English grain," &c. 

In Morton's " New England Memorial " the writer states that after 
Massassoit had concluded the terms of the league with the Plymouth 
settlers in March, 162 1, " he returned to his place called Sowams, about 
forty miles distant from Plymouth." 

A foot note to this statement adds : " Massassoit resided at Sowams 
or Sowamsett, at the confluence of two rivers in Rehoboth, or Swansea, 
though occasionally at Mont Haup or Mount Hope, the principal resi- 
dence of his son, Philip." 

In Hubbard's History of New England it is stated : " Massassoit 

157 



they brought down to the English at Plymouth, though his place was at 
forty miles distance, called Sowams, his country called Pokanoket." 

In Winslow's account of his second journey to Sowams, 1623, he 
says : " News came to Plymouth, that Massasowat was like to die, and 
that at the same time .there was a Dutch ship driven so high on the 
shore by stress of weather, right before his dwelling, that till the tides 
increased, she could not be got off." When he reached Sowams the 
Dutch ship had gone, and he found Massassoit sick. 

A note in Belknap's Am. Biog., Vol. 11, p. 221, referring to the 
name " Puckanokick," states that this was a general name for the northern 
shore of Narragansett Bay, between Providence and Taunton, compre- 
hending the present territory of Bristol, Warren, and Barrington, R. I., 
and Swansea in Massachusetts. Its northern extent is unknown. "The 
principal seats of Massassoit were at Sowams and Kickemuit. The for- 
mer, Sowams, is a neck of land formed by the confluence of the Bar- 
rington and Palmer's Rivers. The latter, Kickemuit, is Mount Hope." 

In Winthrop's Journal, page 'J2, it appears that the Governor received 
letters from Plymouth, " signifying that there had been a broil between 
their men at Sowamset and the Narragansett Indians, who set upon the 
English house there to have taken Ousamequin, the sagamore of Packa- 
nocott, who was fled thither to relieve the three English which were 
in the house, had sent home with all haste for more men and other pro- 
visions, upon intelligence that Canonicus with a great army, was coming 
against them." 

" Powder was wanted and Winthrop sent twenty seven pounds ; the 
messenger returned with a letter from the Governor (of Plymouth) that 
the Indians were retired from Sowams to fight with the Pequins (Pe- 
quots), which was probable." 

Under date of May i, 1632, we find the following in the same jour- 
nal : Winthrop and assistants in session at Boston : " While they were 
thus sitting together, an Indian brings a letter from Captain Standish, 
then at Sowams, to the effect that the Dutchmen (which lay for loading 
at Anygansett or Narragansett) had lately informed him that many 
Pequins who were professed enemies to the Anygansetts, had been 

158 



there divers days and had advised us to be watchful, etc., giving other 
reasons, etc," 

Thomas Dudley, Deputy, made complaint against Governor Win- 
throp as follows, in 1623 ; asking, " By what authority he lent twenty 
eight pounds of powder to those at Plimouth, the Governor answered, 
it was his own powder, and upon their urgent request, their own powder 
proving naught when they were to send to the rest of their men at 
Sowamsett." 

The above references establish these facts : That Sowams was on 
or near Narragansett Bay; that it was the residence of Massassoit, the 
great chief of the Wampanoags ; that there was a trading post at Sowams 
where the Dutch supplied the Indians with the commerce of the earlier 
times ; that Governor Winthrop sent aid to Massassoit and that Standish 
also visited Sowams with military aid to the Indians there against the 
Narragansetts, That the words Sowams and Pokanoket were some- 
times used interchangeably is not strange, as at the period referred to, 
from 1620 to 1640, the Indian names of places had not been definitely 
localized by the whites at Plymouth or Boston, as intercourse between 
them had been very limited. Belknap and Morton, however, or their 
editors, state that Massassoit resided at Sowams or Sowampsett, " at the 
confluence of the two rivers in Rehoboth or Swansea," or on a neck of 
land formed by the confluence of the Barrington and Palmer's Rivers." 

These authors locate Sowams on the eastern peninsula of Barring- 
ton, known as New Meadow Neck, having a branch of Sowams River 
on the east. 

With the above historic references before us, we are now prepared 
to examine the records as to what Sowams was and where Massassoit 
had his residence, as all authorities agree that he lived at Sowams. 

In 1641, Mr. John Brown and Mr. Edward Winslow, both of whom 
had made intimate acquaintance with Massassoit, purchased of the chief 
a tract of land eight miles square, known to the Indians as Sinkhunck, 
but named by the whites Rehoboth. Prior to this purchase we find in 
the Plymouth records (vol. 2, p. 5) under the date of December, 1640, the 
following entry : 

159 



" The third place from Sowamsett River to Patuckquett River, with 
Consumpsit Neck wch is the cheefe habitacon of the Indians and reserved 
for them to dwell upon, extending into the land eight miles through the 
whole breadth thereof was made choice of by the purchasers or old comers 
according to the order of the court passed March 3, 1639." The 
"Sowamsett River" referred to is the river separating Barrington from 
Warren and the " Patuckquett " is Providence River from Narragansett 
Bay to the city of Pawtucket. Mr. Brown and his associates at once 
began the settlement of their purchase of Seekonk which they named 
Rehoboth, and in 1645 it was voted at a meeting of the townsmen " that 
a fence shall be made from sea to sea (Sowamsett River to Patuckquett 
River) between the Indian lands." This fence was the south line of the 
Rehoboth purchase. 

It is evident from the above record that Sowams was not included 
in the Seekonk purchase of 1641, as a fence was built along the southern 
boundary of the town to separate its lands from those of the Indians 
on the South. As Consumpsit Neck (Bristol Neck) was an Indian 
reservation and known by that name, it is clear that it was not a part 
of Sowams. Kickemuit, the Indian village, and the section of the ter- 
ritory along the Kickemuit River are not claimed as within the Sowams 
limit. It must then be accepted that Sowams was a part of the territory 
lying between Seekonk on the north, and the Narragansett Bay and Con- 
sumpsit or Mount Hope Neck on the south and east. Let us now exam- 
ine testimony that is clear and positive as to its real location. 

In the deed of Massassoit and Philip dated March 20, 1653, the 
Indians united in a transfer of lands, entitled " Sowams and Parts Adja- 
cent," to Thomas Prince, Thomas Willett, Miles Standish, Josiah 
Winslow and their associates for the consideration of thirty-five pounds, 
and described as follows : " All those several parcells and Necks of 
upland, Swamps and meadows. Lying and being on the South Syde of 
Sinkhunck els Rehoboth Bounds and is bounded by a little brook of 
water called by the Indians Mosskituash westerly and so Ranging by a 
dead swamp eastward unto the great River with all the Creeks and 
Brooks that are in or upon any of the said meadows, as also all the. 

160 



marsh meadows lying and Being without the Bounds before mentioned, 
in or about the neck called by the Indians Chachacust. Also all the 
meadows lyeing and being in or about Popasquash Neck, as also all the 
meadows Lyeing from Kickomuet on both sides or any way joyning to 
it on the bay on each side." This was the Sowams Purchase. 

To understand the limits of this territory called Sowams, it may 
be stated that " Mosskituash " was the name of the brook near River- 
side in East Providence, that flows into Bullock's Cove ; " the dead 
swamp" was the woodland east and north of the old Willett estate, 
in ancient Wannamoisett ; "the great river" (Sowams) with both 
branches was Palmers and Barrington Rivers, uniting at the south 
end of New Meadow Neck; Chachacust was New Meadow Neck; 
Popasquash was the name of the neck of land in Bristol, west of Bristol 
Harbor. The Indian deed is vital testimony in that it fixes Sowams as 
the territory on the south side of Seekonk and between the Sowamsett or 
Great River on the east and Patuckquett River on the west, 

" The parts adjacent," which are not bounded, are the salt and 
fresh meadows on Popasquash Neck and on both sides of the Kickemuit 
River. It was not until after King Philip's War that the whites attempted 
to occupy or come into the ownership of the Indian possessions at Mount 
Hope. In this deed, reference is made to " the neck called by the Indians 
Chachacust," which was deeded conditionally to the whites, as it is 
stated " that whensoever the Indians shall remove from the Neck, that 
then and thenceforth the aforesaid Thomas Prince and others shall enter 
upon the same by the same graunt, as their proper rights and interest 
to them and their haiers forever." In other words, New Meadow Neck 
or Chachacust was then the residence of a portion of the tribe. 

In 1653, the year of the purchase of Sowams by Willett, Prince 
and others, the town of Rehoboth agreed to build " a sufficient 
fence to keep horses and cattle from Rangeing into the Neck of land 
called the New Meadow Neck and maintaine the same." With the 
Indian settlement on New Meadow Neck, it was very important for the 
peace of both whites and Indians that a sufficient fence should stand 
between their lands. 

161 



Another piece of evidence fits the case at this point. Rehoboth 
wanted certain salt meadows in the upper part of Barrington River and 
applied to Plymouth Court for the same. The Court voted Dec. 7, 1647 • 

" Whereas the inhabitants of Rehoboth desire liberty to make use 
of a quantity of marsh land lying on the west side of Sowames River 
wh they called New Meadows, containing about one hundred accars 
untell there should bee a plantation at Sowames, leave was granted unto 
them so to make use of it, but no further ppriety to belong unto them, 
but untell a plantation should be settled at Sowams and for the avoyding 
of all differences or contentions amongst them about the same, it is 
left unto the discretion of Mr. Browne for him to dispose of amongst 
them, as hee should see them stand in need." 

" And for such pieces of marsh lying within the fence upon the 
necke of the land wh the Indians possessed of and doe inhabite, which 
does not belong to the township of Rehoboth, Mr. Brown is allowed 
to make use of the same for himself, without molestation from the 
inhabitants at Sowames, and then to require no further ppriety therein." 

This record is in the handwriting of Nathaniel Morton, Secretary 
of Plymouth Colony, who in 1668 tells us that the residence of Massas- 
soit was at Sowams, at the confluence of two rivers in Rehoboth or 
Swansea. The liberty given Mr. Brown to use marsh lands lying within 
the fence upon the neck, can by no interpretation be made to apply to 
any other section of Sowams than New Meadow Neck, where an Indian 
village then stood, as it is distinctly stated, " which the Indians are 
possessed of and do inhabite, which doth not belong to the township 
of Rehoboth." This record also declares that Mr. Brown could use 
these lands only until a plantation was made at Sowams of which these 
lands were a part. 

Rev. John Callender in his Historical Discourse adds his testimony 
as to Sowams. An ecclesiastical synod at Boston tried John Clarke 
and his associates for heresy. Mr. Callender says, " Whereupon, many 
of the other side determined to remove, for peace sake, and to enjoy 
the freedom of their consciences. And Mr. John Clarke who made the 
proposal, was requested with some others, to seek out a place, and 

162 



thereupon by reason of the suffocating heat of the summer before, he 
went North, to be somewhat cooler, but the winter following proving 
as cold, they were forced in the spring to make towards the South. 
So having sought the Lord for their directions they agreed, that while 
their vessel was passing about a large and dangerous Cape, (Cape Cod), 
they would cross over by land, having Long Island and Deleware Bay 
in their eye for the place of residence. At Providence, Mr. R. Williams 
lovingly entertained them, and being consulted about their design, readily 
presented two places before them in the Narragansett Bay, the one 
on the mainland called So-wames (the Neck since called Phebe's Neck 
in Barrington) and Aquetneck now Rhode Island. (Mr. John Clarke's 
Narrative). And inasmuch as they were determined to go out of every 
other jurisdiction, Mr, Williams and Mr. Clarke attended with two other 
persons, went to Plymouth to inquire how the case stood ; they were 
lovingly received and answered that Sowames was the garden of their 
Patent. But they were advised to settle at Aquetneck, and promised to 
be looked upon as free and to be treated and assisted as loving neighbors." 
Next to the title deed from the Indians, establishing Barrington as 
the Sowams of Massassoit, the most important testimony is this of the 
greatest white neighbor of the great chief, his most estimable friend, 
Roger Williams. In 1636 Mr. Williams had made the friendship of 
Massassoit and was his guest at Sowams for several days on his way 
from Plymouth to Seekonk. Learning that these lands were probably 
in Massachusetts Bay Colony, Mr. Williams crossed the Seekonk River 
and settled in Providence. In 1637, his friend, John Clarke, having 
been requested to leave Boston by ecclesiastical authority, came to Provi- 
dence to consult as to his future with his friend, Williams, banished 
from Salem. Clarke talked about a good place for settlement, and 
Williams recommended two places. " The one on the mainland called 
Sowames (the neck since called Phebe's Neck in Barrington) and Aquet- 
neck, now Rhode Island." Going to Plymouth for permission to settle 
at Sowams, they were told that "Sowams was the garden of their 
Patent," and Clarke was advised to settle at Aquidneck, which he did. 
Callender, who wrote the above statement, was no other than the Rev. 

163 



John Callender, whose Historical Discourse from which the quotation 
is taken, is a classic authority in Rhode Island history. He in turn 
quotes from Mr. John Clarke's Narrative as to Mr. Williams's advice 
in the matter. As Mr. Callender was the assistant minister of the Bap- 
tist Church in Swansea, 1728-30, and was practically living on the 
territory of Sowams, it is impossible that he could be mistaken when 
he says that Sowams was Phebe's Neck or Harrington, " The Garden 
of the (Plymouth) Patent." It is unreasonable to believe that Roger 
Williams, who had been the guest of Massassoit at his village the winter 
before, could have been mistaken as to the location of Sowams, the 
residence of his host, that memorable winter, nor can it be possible that 
John Clarke and Rev. John Callender, who had visited the territory 
and were well acquainted with its limits, would locate the chief, his 
home, and his town on the west side of the river at Barrington, when 
his home was really reached by crossing the river to the site of the town 
of Warren. It is fortunate that Mr. Clarke wrote his Century Sermon 
in 1739, wliile Barrington was a separate town, so that there could be 
no misunderstanding as to the locality. Had he written in 171 5, he 
must have said that Sowams was in Swansea and we should never have 
known by him on which side of the river the Indian village was located. 

After the purchase of Sowams in 1653, the lands were divided and 
sold to actual settlers and from that date on, we find the lands of Sowams 
in the hands of permanent white occupants. Mr. Willett and Mr. John 
Brown took large possessions at Wannamoisett and made their homes 
there while others settled on the north end of New Meadow Neck. From 
1649, when Rev. Mr. Newman began his opposition to the Rehoboth 
Baptists, till 1663, the year of the arrival of the Rev. John Myles, the 
people of the Baptist faith were scattered, some going to Newport, some 
to Boston, and others to Sowams, outside and south of Rehoboth, where 
the liberal leaders had established their settlement and church. 

Under the government and protection of Plymouth Colony as they 
were, these people must bear their share of the burdens of the colony 
and the omnipresent tax assessor and collector must visit the new pro- 
prietary of Sowams and levy and collect taxes from the permanent settlers 
in Sowams, on New Meadow and Phebe's Neck, and at Wannamoisett. 

164 



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As the tax book of Plymouth Colony was an unerring guide as to 
the presence of wealth and population, we find Sowams was entered 
as a taxable community in 1652, the Indian contingent excepted. The 
following records relative to taxation of the people dwelling at Sowams 
and the rates of several towns, showing the comparative size of the 
neighborhoods, are of convincing importance: 

1652 Sowams rates £1 10 00 

Rehoboth " 5 i 

Plymouth " 3 14 

1660 Sowamsett " 2 10 

Oct. 12, 1660. " Captn. Willett is to bee sent unto to put those that have 
lands att Sowamsett into some way for the leviing and paying of theire 
rates." 

1 66 1, June lOth. " The naighborhood of Sowamsett is ordered to pay 
a rate of fifty shillings for the public charges of the countrey." "It is 
ordered by the Court that the ward of Rehoboth shal extend into Sowam- 
sett and unto all the naighbors there inhabiting." 

1661 Oct. Sowams £4 i 3 

Rehoboth 842 

Plymouth 6 

1662 Ott. Sowams 5 10 o 

Rehoboth 15 3 o 

Plymouth 11 2 

Bridgewater o 30 o 

June, 1663. " It was ordered that these that sett downe att Sowamsett 
to be accounted to belong to the town of Rehoboth." Sowamsett alias 
Barrington lay adjacent to Rehoboth on the south. 

1663 Oct. Sowamsett 

Rehoboth 
Plymouth 
Bridgewater 

165 



£ 6 


17 





13 


17 


9 


13 


3 


6 


4 


2 


6 



1664 June Sowamsett 2 5 

1664 Sept. Sowams 3 15 

1 164 Sept. "It was ordered by the Court that the town of Rehoboth 
and the naighborhood of Sowamsett, in all levies for publick rates, shalbee 
considered as one entire township until such time that the said naigh- 
borhood shalbee in a capassitie and desire to bee a township of them- 
selves," 

1664 Oct. Sowams £ 3 7 6 

Rehoboth 11 7 3 

Plymouth 8 6 6 

In 1665 " It is enacted by the Court that the naighborhood of Sowam- 
sett bee accounted to be within the township of Rehoboth and within 
that constablerick, and the constable to performe his office within the 
said naighborhood for the gathering of rates &c. as any other parte of 
his liberties." 

1665-6 March. Sowams £4 26. 

Rehoboth 13 17 9 

Plymouth 10 36. 

It is important to note that the name of Swansea takes the place 
of Sowams on the tax list in 1668. As Swansea was incorporated in 
1667, and its people, mainly occupying the territory west of Palmer's 
River, were the residents of Sowams, Swansea took the name and burdens 
of the community bearing the Indian name of Sowams. 

In 1667, before Swansea was incorporated, and when Sowams was 
bearing a tax levy nearly one-half the amount paid by Rehoboth, or of 
the mother town of Plymouth, the territory now known as Warren was 
known as Brooks Pasture and was used for the common pasturage of 
cattle, horses and sheep, in a common herd. The fence on the north 
side of the Indian lands at Bristol guarded their passage southward and 
the salt water made the inclosure complete on the other side of the great 
field, and a secure pasture ground it was without a white inhabitant on 
the territory, until some time after Philip's War, for Hugh Cole and Mr. 

166 



Butterworth had their homes on lands east of the Kickemuit, some of 
which are still owned by the Cole and Butterworth descendants. 

An Indian villag-e could not easily exist in the common pasture of 
the white settlers, and at the very time that Sowams was paying an 
annual rate of £io, into the Plymouth Treasury, the territory of Warren 
was the quiet grazing ground of the settlers' cattle, and remained in the 
same state of useful service to the people of Swansea until 1720 and 
later. 

In 1658 the Plymouth Court ordered " that a Troop of horse well 
appointed with furniture, viz.: a saddle and a case of petternells for 
every horse shall be raised out of the several townships to be ready for 
service when required," who were freed from foot service. Each troop 
numbered forty-eight horsemen. Rehoboth was ordered to raise three 
troops, Taunton two, and Sowams one, showing that Sowams had one- 
half the financial ability and population of Taunton, and one-third that 
of Rehoboth. 

As to the layout and occupation of Brook's Pasture (now Warren) 
by white settlers the following items from the Swansea records are con- 
clusive proof that these lands from the Bristol line to Palmer's River 
and Belcher's Cove were not laid out for settlers until 1720, although 
the subject was discussed as early as 1679-80. 

Under the date of February 25, 1679-80, in Swansea town meeting, it 
was voted " that ye whole tract of land called Brooks Pasture unto ye old 
fence by John Wheaton's and what land is \^t undivided which was 
obtained of the countrey by composition shall be divided in a distinct 
division and a survey up to Swansea two miles be taken which shall 
bear its part to satisfie Hugh Cole." 

It was also voted " that Mr. William Ingraham, Samuel Luther and 
William Howard shall agree with Hugh Cole to what part he shall have 
of Brooks Pasture." 

At a town meeting held in Swansea, Aug. 6, 1680. "It is ordered 
that whereas the committe Chosen for ye surveying of Brooks Pasture 
25th of February, 1679 (1680) have now brought in their part fit to be 
300 acres," 

167 



I. "It is now ordered that Convenient highways may be laid out in 
sd. land. 2. That ye land for house lots be laid out. 3. Hugh Cole 
Senrs. land be laid out. 4. That ye remainder be laid out to each man 
according to his proportion as Rankt and that each man draw his lot 
when put in form, which is to be done with convenient speed by 5 men 
as a Commitie namely, John Brown, Wm. Ingraham, Hugh Cole, Samuel 
Luther, Obadiah Brown." 

At a meeting of the proprietors, April i, 17 18, " That a vote was 
passed yt Brooks Pasture and ye island thereby should be laid out." 

Still later, in 1719-20, a vote was passed by the proprietors that 
Brooks Pasture should be laid out, and as late as April 19, 1725, the 
following record appears : "By virtue of a warrant from one of his 
Majesty's Justices of the Peace for ye County of Bristol, voted, that 
the land in Brooks pasture be all laid out in 102 lots according to quan- 
tity and quality." 

It does not appear by the above records when the first house was 
built on Brooks Pasture, and Mr. Fessenden states that it cannot be 
easily ascertained. Certain it is, however, that the lay out of this section 
was not completed as late as 1720, after a period of twenty years' dis- 
cussion. 

My reasons for the position that Barrington is as a whole or in 
part ancient Sowams are these: 

1. The whole territory occupied by Philip, including what is now 
Bristol and Warren was known by the Indians and whites as Consump- 
sit or Mount Hope and Mount Hope Neck and included the land from 
Kickemuit River on the east to Mount Hope and Narragansett Bays on 
the south and west, extending north to the present Rehoboth line. All 
references to persons or events in this territory are referred to as at 
Consumpsit Neck, Mount Hope, Pokanoket, or Kickemuit; Mount Hope 
was the chief residence of Philip before and while he was sachem of the 
Wampanoags, while Sowams was the home of Massassoit. Sowams was 
therefore without the Mount Hope Lands and between them and Reho- 
both. 

Miantonomi, Chief of the Narragansetts, in his deed to Randall 

168 



Holden, calls the bay in front of Warwick Purchase " Sowames (Sowams 
Bay)," a most natural thing for him to do, since Barrington territory 
opposite was known to his tribe as Sowams. The territory of Warwick 
did not touch the bay, nor could it be seen from the Warwick Purchase, 
while the lands of Barrington Neck, Sowams, from Rumstick Point to 
Pomham Rocks were daily seen by his tribe, and the shores and waters 
of "Sowams Bay" were often the scene of deadly contest between the 
warriors of Canonicus and Massassoit. 

II. Nathaniel Morton, Secretary of Plymouth Colony, writing in 
1669 a memorial of New England from 1620, states that the Chief, Mas- 
sassoit, after his league with the whites, "returned to his place called 
Sowams, about forty miles from Plymouth." The foot note to the above 
statement adds, " Massassoit resided at Sowams or Sowampsett, at the 
confluence of two rivers in Rehoboth or Swansea, though occasionally at 
Mont Haup or Mount Hope, the principal residence of his son Philip." 
Barrington and New Meadow Neck are about forty miles from Plymouth 
by the old Indian trail, and New Meadow Neck or Sowams, the residence 
of Massassoit, is " at the confluence of the two rivers in Rehoboth or 
Swansea." 

III. The joint deed of Massassoit and Philip to Thomas Prince, 
Thomas Willett and others, in 1653, was of " Sowams and Parts adja- 
cent." 

This deed included the whole of Barrington or Sowams as the 
main body of the conveyance, with the fresh and salt meadows on the 
Kickemuit River, at Mount Hope and at Popasquash as " The Parts 
Adjacent." The Proprietors' Records are styled "Memorial or Booke 
of Records of ye Severall Divisions and Bounds of ye Lands at Sowames 
als. Swamsett & Parts Adjacent, purchased of ye great Sachem Osame- 
quin and Wamsetta his eldest Sonne by Certain Gentlemen of ye Ancient 
Inhabitants of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England." 

IV. This book of records in the Town Clerk's office at Barrington, 
describes in particular the Sowams lands in Barrington, the original 
owners, and their successors, most of whom were residents of what is 
now Barrington, East Providence, Seekonk and Rehoboth. The last 

169 



meeting of the Proprietors was held at the house of Elkanah Humphrey 
in Barrington, March i6th, 1797, at which Solomon Townsend was 
Moderator and General Thomas Allin was Clerk, both residents of Bar- 
rington. 

These records clearly and conclusively show that the lands styled 
" Sowams," deeded by Massassoit and Philip in 1653, were held by the 
proprietary, their successors and assigns, for nearly one hundred and 
fifty years, when the ownership of unsold lands was transferred to the 
towns of Barrington, Swansea or Rehoboth as their interests appeared. 
The meetings were usually called in the name of " The Proprietors of 
Sowams," although in several instances they are styled " The Proprietors 
of Phebes Neck." 

It is still further an important fact, worthy of notice, that the pro- 
prietors of Sowams divided the upland as well as the meadows on the 
Barringfton side of the river and laid the highways throughout the town, 
which they did not do in the lands at Kickemuit, Mount Hope or Pop- 
pasquash. The territory now occupied by the town of Warren, was 
designated in the Swansea records as " Brooks pasture." The Sowams 
of Massassoit, the territory sold to Thomas Prince and his associates, 
was substantially then the whole town of Barrington, although parts of 
the section were known by the Indian names of Nayatt, Chachapacassett, 
Chachacust, Wannamoisett, and Phebe's Neck. 

V. Mr. Fessenden refers to a map of New England in Davis's 
edition (1826) of Morton's Memorial as indicating that Sowams was 
Warren. This map is a copy of one of the first maps made in New 
England (1677), and is a cartographic curiosity. It locates Mount Hope 
nearly opposite Providence with a river east of " Seacunck " and Mount 
Hope, with two branches. The crown referred to, as denoting the resi- 
dence of the chief sachem and the location of the capital, is marked 
between the two rivers. If this map is of any value at all in locating 
Sowams, it stands in favor of New Meadow Neck, which lies between 
the branches of the Sowams River. An exact copy of the map as related 
to this section of New England may be seen on one of the illustrated 
pages. 

170 



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VI. The story of the Northmen in New England as told by Mr, 
Joshua Tolmin Smith is one of the most valuable contributions as to 
the location of Sowams. His opinion that the Northmen discovered 
Narragansett Bay, named Mount Hope, and visited the lands along Nar- 
ragansett Bay and Providence River is well sustained by his argument 
and story. The map accompanying the book and illustrating the voyage 
locates the peninsula of Barrington, across which in large letters the 
word Sowams is printed. Mr. Smith states that this map is printed from 
an accurate London map of this section of New England. Reference is 
made to the map. 

Vn. In 1720, the General Assembly of Rhode Island ordered an 
authentic map to be made of the Colony, and appointed Mr. John 
Mumford, of Newport, to survey and make an accurate map of all the 
towns in the Colony. The map was made and by vote of the General 
Assembly was accepted and adopted as the official Colonial Map. A 
photograph of a part of the map on another page will show that Sowam- 
sett alias Pokanoket, is located on Barrington territory, the name being 
found between Nayatt and Chachapacassett Points. This map was made 
seventy-three years after Massassoit sold Sowams to Governor Bradford 
and others, and forty-five after Philip's W^ar. The men then living 
knew where Sowams was located by the ancient proprietors. 

VIII. John Clarke, in his narrative of his journey to Providence 
and subsequent settlement at Newport, writes that Roger Williams 
recommended two places for his future home, "the one on the main 
called Sowames (the neck since called Phebe's Neck in Barrington) and 
Aqueineck. now Rhode Island." Roger Williams certainly knew where 
Sowams was for he had been entertained by Massassoit, and the I^ev. 
John Callender, the historian, and at one time minister of Swansea, con- 
firms, if confirmation is needed, the location of Sowams, the home of 
Massassoit. 

IX. Rev. Jeremy Belknap, of Boston, the founder of the Massa- 
chusetts Historical Society, and one of the most learned and accurate 
scholars of the history of the last century, in an article on Pokanoket, 
says, " The principal seats of Massassoit were at Sowams and Kicke- 



muit. The former (Sowams) is a neck of land formed by the confluence 
of the Barringfton (Sowams) and Palmer's Rivers. The latter, Kicke- 
muit, is Mount Hope." Belknap's Am. Biog., vol. ii, p. 221. 

X. By the deed of Massassoit, in 1653, it appears that the Indians 
were then dwelling on New Meadow Neck, for it states that " when^ 
soever the Indians shall remove from the Neck (called Chachacust or 
New Meadow Neck) that then and from thenceforth the aforesaid 
Thomas Prince etc. shall enter upon the same," etc. 

XL The river which bounds and divides the territory was the 
Sowams River with its two branches. This is now the Warren River, 
but was known to the settlers as the Sowams, and is often mentioned 
in the deeds and records. With Barrington as Sowams, it would be 
the most natural thing to call its principal river and branches by the 
Indian name of the section where the chief resided. 

XII. The first white settlement was made near Myles Bridge, on 
the New Meadow Neck, by people excluded from Rehoboth on account 
of religious opinions. Settlements were also made at Wannamoisett by 
John Brown and Thomas Willett. To the Plymouth Government these 
settlements were known as Sowams and taxed under that name. Mr. 
Brown and Captain Willett, who lived at Wannamoisett, were mem- 
bers of the Plymouth Government, had the best possible knowledge of 
the whole country, they must have ordered the name of Sowams to be 
applied to the territory. As we have seen, as early is 1652, Sowams 
was assessed £1, los. in the Colonial tax, where there was not a white 
resident on the territory now known as Warren, except Hugh Cole and 
Mr. Butterworth, east of the Kickemuit River, where Mr. Myles' Church 
was afterwards built, and north of the Indian village on the south end 
of the Neck. Had Warren been the original Sowams, there would not 
have been a white settler to have laid claim to the name or preserve it. 
Mr. Willett and Mr. Brown, Mr. Allin, and others, were the largest 
proprietors of Sowams, and must have known its true location and bounds, 
and used the name in local affairs, until Swansea was incorporated. 

XIII. As early as 1623, a trading post was erected in the Pokanoket 
country by the Plymouth settlers, at Sowams, in the vicinity of the 

172 



.-^^^ 















;kiu)i>k ■ r ! > 






f 




(:? W/i,f/> A'^'rA- 



rt'i/t/^/itf/ff/t 




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SOWAMS, ALIAS BARRINGTON 

From part of map of Vinland showing occupation of Northmen in New England. Copied from a London 
map, 1842. By Joshua Tolmin Smith. F. R. S. No. Antiq. 



largest Indian village, as it was established to carry on barter with the 
Indians. In Miller's history of " The Wampanoag Indians," it is stated 
that the trading post was supposed to have been located on the Harrington 
side of the Sowams River, on the land known as "Phebe's Neck." This 
trading post or house, as it is called at Sowamsett, as related in Winthrop's 
Journal, was the place to which Myles Standish and his men came in 
1632. Massassoit had fled to the post for protection from a threatened 
attack of the Narragansetts, who could easily make raid on the Indians 
at Sowams, by a water approach in canoes across the bay from Warwick 
or by land from the upper end of the river at Providence. Governor 
Winthrop sent twenty-seven pounds of gun-powder to Standish, but a 
messenger soon brought news from Standish that the Indians had 
returned from Sowams to engage in a contest with the Pequots, or 
called "Pequins" in the account. Standish writes from Sowams to 
Governor Winthrop that Dutch vessels lay for trading with the Nar- 
ragansetts and the men had communicated this important news as to 
the Indians on the other side of the bay. Winslow in his letter relative 
to his second journey (1623) to Sowams to visit Massassoit, tells of a 
Dutch trading vessel that had grounded in front of the chief's residence, 
but had sailed away before he had reached the place. As the water of 
both branches of the Harrington River is deep enough for vessels of 
large size for nearly a mile above Warren, it is clear that the Dutch 
coasters or trading vessels could have navigated the channel of these 
streams, and it is quite reasonable that they might be stranded at low tide 
at almost any point between the mouth of the river at Rumstick and the 
heads of the two branches at Barneysville or Hundred Acre Cove. 
According to Tustin, the lower end of New Meadow Neck was at that 
time the most central point in the town (Swansea) and was then called 
the " Place of Trade." 

XIV. The Indian trail from Plymouth to Sowams was through 
Namasket or Middleboro, Titicut or Taunton, across the fording place 
of the Taunton River at the Weirs, thence southerly and westerly across 
Shawomet, Mattapoysett and Touisset Necks. This trail would cross the 
three rivers, Lee's, Cole's and Kickemuit, at fordable passages, and lead 



173 



directly to Myles bridge or the fording place that was used in crossing 
to Sowams. A map showing the old roads of Swansea, established in 
the main on the lines of the Indian trails, will convince one of the cor- 
rectness of this view. 

XV. The Rhode Island Historical Society caused a tablet to be 
erected on New Meadow Neck, at the railroad station, in honor of John 
Hampden, who made the visit to Massassoit with Edward Winslow in 
1623, and at the request of the Historical Society the name of the railroad 
station was changed from NEW MEADOW NECK to HAMPDEN 
MEADOWS. This is high authority in favor of the position that Mas- 
sassoit 'had his residence on New Meadow Neck, where these distinguished 
visitors made their memorable visit in 1623, as described in a previous 
chapter. The inscription on the tablet will be found on another page. 

The chapter would not be complete without a reference to the spring 
in Warren called Massassoit's Spring. There are many springs in the 
towns of Warren, Bristol, and Harrington, from all of which probably 
Massassoit and his tribe drank. The Sowams Records refer to two 
springs in Barrington, Scamscammuck, and Tom's Springs, and to the 
gfreat spring at Kickemuit, but no reference is made to any others. The 
theory as to Massassoit's Spring in Warren is founded only on tradition 
a century old and there is no probability that the Indians ever had a 
village on the site of Warren. Massassoit probably drank from all these 
springs, but if we are to attach the name of the illustrious chief to all 
the springs from which he drank in his travels over his kingdom, the 
monuments to his memory in Bristol County will be legion, as the earth 
fountains are very numerous. 

XVI. At the close of Philip's War, the Indian lands at Pokanoket 
were deserted and the whites took measures to possess them. The 
Sowams proprietors, under date of Dec. 28, 1676, voted, " That for the 
lands at Popanomscutt, and parts adjacent, left & deserted by the Indians, 
now in disspute between the Proprietors and the publique wheather 
owners or Conquered Lands the Proprietors doe (forthwith all as one 
man) take Effectual Course for the defence and clearing our Interest in 

174 



the lands aforesaid in order where unto it is mutually Agreed and fully 
Concluded by us the proprietors in manner following viz. 

" That Some meet person or persons be forthwith Chosen to prosecute 
the business for the defence of our Interest as Aforesaid." 

This record shows that the Indians were dwelling on the Sowams 
Purchase until the opening of Philip's War, when their desertion of them 
forfeited the lands to the white settlers. 



X75 



CHAPTER V 

THE NEW ENGLAND 
PROPRIETARY 



®I}0 N^m iEttglattb Prnprtrtarg 

0^^/0 HE Proprietary is the oldest form of corporate life, originating 
/ ^\ i" New England. It existed for the purpose of holding, 
■ ■ I managing, selling and conveying lands and land estates, 
^^^^r When our ancestors first came to America, it was usual 
in some of the New England Colonies for the General 
Courts to grant and set apart a tract of land to a number of persons as 
grantees in fee to hold as tenants in common. The persons holding and 
controlling these lands were called proprietors and the territorial pos- 
session with its control was called a Proprietary. A great proportion of 
the lands of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies was originally 
allotted to proprietors in township grants. Much larger tracts in Mas- 
sachusetts under land patents from the Crown, from the Council at 
Plymouth in England, from the General Courts of the Colonies of 
Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, and from the Indians, were claimed 
by proprietors. 

The Kennebec (Maine) proprietors claimed about three million 
acres; the Pejepscot proprietors about as many more; the Pemaquid 
proprietors about ninety thousand acres; and upon settlement of rights and 
boundaries with the Colonies, these proprietors retained and held nearly 
one-half of what they thus claimed and held. Of the proprietaries of 
Plymouth and Rhode Island Colonies most of the lands were obtained 
by direct purchase of the sachems or others of the Indian tribes. The 
title deeds were signed by the sachems or others having authority, with 
a consideration named therein as a regular real estate transaction of sale 
and purchase, recognized and confirmed by the Colonial Courts. Gov- 
ernor Edward Winslow, of Plymouth, under date of May i, 1676, states 
that prior to King Philip's War, the English did not possess one foot 
of land in that Colony, but what was fairly obtained by honest purchase, 
from the Indian owners, with the knowledge and allowance of the 
Plymouth Court. The title to the Providence Purchase originated in a 

179 



deed of " all the lands and meadows on the two fresh rivers, the Mos- 
hassuck and the Woonasquatucket," given to Roger Williams by Canoni- 
cus and Miantonomi, uncle and nephew, sachems of the Narragansetts. 
Between 1636 and 1638, Roger Williams, by a deed which has been 
lost conveyed his title thus acquired to twelve associates who became 
joint tenants, giving " equal right and power of enjoying and disposing 
of the same grounds and lands " to his friends, the said associates, " and 
such others as the major of us shall admit into the same fellowship of 
vote with us." This was the beginning of the Proprietary of the Provi- 
dence Plantations Purchase, whose very title contemplates that it was 
to be shared with those who might settle in the town, and who from that 
time forward always acted as an incorporated body, disposing of their 
lands by the major vote of the joint tenants or proprietors. All the 
land titles in the Providence Purchase rest on this foundation supported 
by the Charter of Charles the II, and the Act of 1682. 

During the Colonial government of Pennsylvania, William Penn 
in his own person was the proprietary. The domain which Penn and 
his family had in the state was diverted, by the Act of June 28, 1779, from 
the family and vested in the Colony, for the sum of which the latter 
paid to them one hundred and thirty thousand pounds sterling. 

In nearly all of the old New England towns, there was a body of 
land proprietors, distinguished from those inhabitants who had interests 
in the grants and purchases referred to. The latter class was so small 
in numbers, that a town and proprietors' meeting would be composed 
of nearly the same persons. Hence it was the town and proprietors' 
records were liable to be confounded; the same clerk acting for both 
bodies and keeping the records of both bodies in one book with no 
distinctive separation of the transactions of the town and the proprietary. 
It was early found that the proprietors, in many cases, were too numerous 
and dispersed to manage their lands as individuals ; since without incor- 
poration, they could never, as a body, legally act even by majorities, so 
as to bind their dissenting associates; nor make a lease or sale of their 
lands, without the concurrence of every proprietor in the execution of 
the deed. Accordingly, in the old digests of all the New England Colo 

180 



nies, acts are found prescribing the mode in which their meetings shall 
be called, and empowering them to choose officers, — pass orders relative 
to the management, division and disposal of their common lands, — and 
in some of the Colonies to assess and collect taxes from their members ; 
in short, communicating to them all the incidents of a corporation aggre- 
gate, without giving them that name. 

In Rhode Island, where as in the case of the Providence Purchase, 
a voluntary compact only existed, the proprietors assembled, passed 
votes and orders relative to their common property in the same manner 
as though incorporated ; admitted members into the proprietary, by mere 
vote, upon payment of a certain sum towards the common stock; and 
in the same simple way, from time to time, dividing their lands among 
those entitled, according to their claims. The titles thus conveyed had 
and still have, the same validity as though proceeding from a legally 
incorporated body, and have not been seriously questioned before any 
court of law or equity. A similar course was taken in the Colony of 
New Plymouth while under the famous compact. 

As the proprietors sold and set off their lands in severalty, they 
remained joint owners only of the residue, until at last, in some of the 
towns of the Colonies there is a small portion only of such lands left, 
and in most of them, none at all. In some of the states the proprietaries 
have become obsolete, their lands having been all sold or divided or by 
reason of adverse possession having passed out of the hands of the 
ancient ownership. In some states the proprietaries remain in the exer- 
cise of their powers, but their main value at the present time is as an 
historic link with the early business enterprises of our ancestors, and 
as a type of business honesty and fidelity which made these crude land 
titles as binding and legitimate as the formal legal conveyancing of 
modern days. 

We have seen that the proprietary was a voluntary association of 
persons for the purpose of securing, holding and conveying lands, which 
were obtained by direct purchase of the Indians, or by grant of the Colo- 
nial Court or by both methods. 

The meetings of the proprietors were called by warrant or order. 



issued at the request of some or a specified number of the proprietors, 
or of some specified officers, by a magistrate as a justice of the peace ; the 
warrant being required to set forth the time and place and occasion of 
the meeting. When met, the proprietors were empowered to choose a 
clerk, surveyors, and other officers, who, in some of the Colonies, were 
required to be sworn. They could not legally act upon the business of 
the proprietary, unless at a meeting warned according to the statute 
enabling them to meet in a corporate character. All acts of the proprie- 
tary, passed by the majority of the persons present, within the limits of 
a quorum, were legal and binding on the corporation. 

In a suit brought by the proprietors themselves they were required 
to prove the warrant of the justice calling a meeting only twenty years 
before, for the purpose of reorganizing the proprietary; but not to 
prove a warrant for calling a first meeting held seventy years before. 
After the lapse of forty years and long exercise of corporate rights, a 
regular warrant calling the first meeting may well be presumed and the 
rights derived from and held under the acts of the proprietors cannot 
be controverted. 

Copies of ancient proprietary grants are admissible in evidence, with- 
out proof that the meetings at which they were made were legally 
assembled. If the records of a proprietors' meeting state that it was 
legally warned and held, this has been deemed prima facie evidence of 
the fact, and that the articles of business acted upon at such meeting was 
inserted in the warrant. The records and certificates of the records of 
proprietors, with regard to the partition and transfer of their common 
lands, must be, and are continually received as evidence. Where the 
affairs of the proprietaries and the towns were not kept separate, as was 
often the case, a proprietary grant, voted by the town and attested by 
a proprietary clerk, and also very ancient grants voted by the proprietors 
in their own name, and even in the name of the town, have been admitted 
in evidence. 

A book of proprietors' records, which had been in the possession 
of the grandfather of the witness who produced it, and for thirty years 
in the hands of the grandfather's executors, from whom it came to the 

X83 



witness, was admitted in evidence, there being no evidence that the pro- 
prietary was still in existence with a clerk to keep their records, and no 
place appointed by law for the deposit of them. If a record in a pro- 
prietors' book be a distinct record of a vote at a regular meeting, grant- 
ing to one of their number a parcel of the common land to be held in 
severalty and locating and describing it definitely, the plain import of sucn 
a vote cannot be controverted by parcel evidence. 

In some of the earlier colonial statutes, the provisions enabling the 
proprietors to act in a corporate character in relation to their common 
lands, are very general. One of them after reciting in the preamble, 
"that no order hath bine yett made for their orderly meeting together 
to devide the said lands, or to make orders for the settlement of the same," 
empowers them "to come together at the same certain time and place 
to transact such matters as may concern them, and what shall be lawfully 
acted att such meetings by the proprietors, or the major pte of them, 
shall be vallid and binding." 

The Plymouth statute expressly, and the rest by natural implication, 
recognize those acts of the proprietors only to be valid which are law- 
fully done. It should be recollected, however, that some of the statutes 
were undoubtedly passed in reference to, and with a view to legalize, 
the doings of proprietors already in the practice of assembling and acting 
as if incorporated, in the management and disposition of their common 
lands ; the proprietors or settlers having in Plymouth and Rhode Island 
at least, without legal warrant, under voluntary compacts, and from the 
very necessity of their condition, assumed the power of self-government, 
and of disposing of their land, in the same manner as they transacted 
their other common business, by vote, as if in the exercise of sovereign 
power. In the other colonies, as we have before noticed, from the fact 
that the same individuals composed both the inhabitants of the towns 
and the members of the propriety, the doings of these bodies were fre- 
quently confounded, and at all events, it was natural that the mode of 
transacting their town business, which was by vote, should be adopted 
in those simple times with regard to the disposition of their lands. 

Without a doubt, a proprietary conveyance by vote alone, definitely 

183 



describing the lot sold or set off, is sufficient. A common mode of 
partition was for the proprietors to vote that there should be a new 
division of the common lands, so many acres to each full right, and in 
the same proportion to each part right; to be taken up after a specified 
time. Each proprietor was thereupon entitled to call upon the surveyor 
to make for him a survey of so much of the common land selected at 
the pleasure of the proprietors, to which the vote of partition applied, as 
his right entitled him to ; the survey was then, to avoid all collision, taken 
to a standing committee of proprietors for allowance, and if by them 
allowed, was by the clerk recorded, and thus the title in severalty became 
complete. Another mode was for a committee appointed for the purpose, 
to bound out the tract intended to be divided, and to divide the same 
into as many equal parcels, having regard both to quantity and quality 
as there were proprietors, and to return a plat of the same to the pro- 
prietors, on which each lot was marked out and numbered. At their 
meeting, the proprietors, after considering the plat and accepting it, if 
there was no objection to it sustainable, would vote that they proceed to 
draw for the lots thus marked and numbered. The draft was tihen made, 
and the number drawn by each was recorded, and the name of each pro- 
prietor written on the plat, which answered to the number he had drawn, 
and this finished the operation. 

The practice of making partition of their lands amongst the proprie- 
tors, by a vote merely, prevailed in all the proprieties ; an immense amount 
of property eventually depended upon the validity of these proceedings, 
and they have always been sustained by the courts of every one of the 
New England States. After the proprietors have made a division of 
certain lots by drafts, they cannot rescind such a partition and vote thus 
set off to persons claiming the different rights in lieu of their drafts. 

Proprietors may arrange themelves in classes, and divide their 
lands by lot, an equal parcel to each class, to be held by the individuals 
of that class in common, to the exclusion of the rest; and if preparatory 
to a partition they appoint a committee to survey a tract of land, and 
lay it out in lots, so they may either assent to the doings of such a 
committee, or make partition without regard to them ; so that if a part 

184 



only of the committee act, and the proprietors ratify their acts, and make 
partitions accordingly, the proceedings are valid. 

The power of the propriety, to make partition of the common lands 
amongst the proprietors, does not exclude the right of the proprietors, 
as tenants in common, to have partition by process of law against their 
associates; but the proprietors are under no obligation to suspend their 
proceedings in dividing their lands, to enable one of tlieir number to 
obtain partition by process of law; and notwithstanding the pendency 
of such a suit, their voluntary partition will be valid and binding, pro- 
vided the suit does not go to judgment. 

It was no uncommon thing for proprietors to set apart by vote a 
lot or tract of land for public or pious uses, as for a trading-field, a 
public square or common, for public building or a meeting house. Where 
the land is thus dedicated for a public square or common, and individuals 
purchase lots bordering thereon, under an expectation, excited by the 
proprietors, that it shall so remain, the proprietors cannot resume the land 
thus dedicated, and appropriate it to another use; nor can the town 
reclaim land thus set apart and used by the public for a number of years, 
or convey a right to the exclusive possession of any part of it. The 
public in such a case, have only an easement in the land, and any pro- 
prietor of the undivided lands in the town, may, it seems, maintain eject- 
ment against one who is in the exclusive possession of land thus set 
apart. But where the proprietors of a town, having set apart a piece of 
land as a common for public uses, made a division of lands consisting 
of one-acre lots about the common, which were distributed to the pro- 
prietors, one to each right; it was held that a purchaser of one of these 
lots had no right to the fee of the common in front of it, and could not 
maintain trespass against anyone who erected a building thereon near 
his lot. 

The proprietors of a township appropriated land for a meeting- 
house, which was subsequently built thereon ; the town was afterwards 
incorporated, and assumed the charge of all parochial matters, and the 
land around the meeting-house was called " the common, &c.," and was 
always open, was intersected by roads and used for the site of horse- 

185 



sheds, and for all the ordinary purposes incident to a place of worship, 
and also for a training field, and the first parish in the town, as the 
successor of the town in its parochial character, and in actual possession, 
maintained trespass against a mere stranger for ploughing up a portion 
of the land thus appropriated, though after the appropriation the pro- 
prietors had voted to sell a part of it, and had exercised other acts of 
ownership over other portions of it. 

There was never a question but that the proprietors were authorized 
to sell portions of their common lands, as a corporation, to one not a 
member of the proprietary, and a fortiori to one who was, for the pur- 
pose of defraying their incidental expenses, and bringfing forward, settling 
and improving their own lands. In some of the proprieties it was usual, 
when a half or a quarter-right-man, as he was called, in distinction from 
a proprietor entitled to a full right, had, in a division by drafts, drawn a 
particular lot, to a part of which only he was entitled according to right, 
to g^ve him a right of Preemption to the remainder of the lot, the pro- 
ceeds of the sale going to the common stock. Neither can there be any 
doubt but that a deed, signed and acknowledged on behalf of the cor- 
poration, by the clerk or other agent duly authorized by vote, with the 
corporate seal attached, would be a competent and very proper mode of 
conveying lands, on the part of the propriety in case of a sale, and, in 
modern times, this mode is frequently if not usually adopted. A vote 
of proprietors, authorizing a committee to sell the common lands, em- 
powers them also to make deeds in the name of the propriety; 
and in executing such deeds, one seal is sufficient, though the com- 
mittee may consist of several persons. But where the proprietors 
authorize their clerk, as clerk, to make a deed of a piece of their land 
to an individual in their name, it was decided that the grantee took no 
title. 

It was long a question, whether proprietors could sell their common 
lands, merely for the purpose of turning them into money. It being 
found, however, that the practice had been general, and that large estates 
were held under such sales, the courts affirmed this practical construction 
of the statutes, enabling proprietors "to manage, divide, and dispose 

i86 



of their lands in such way and manner as hath been or shall be con- 
cluded and agreed on by the major part of the interested ;" and decided 
in favor of such sales. 

A much more serious doubt once entertained was, whether pro- 
prieties could by mere vote, without deed or even location, convey their 
lands to one not a member of the propriety; and it was remarked by an 
American writer on Land Titles, in the beginning of this century, that 
such a grant "of any part of them by a voice of the majority, to the 
disinherision of the proprietor of such part, or a grant by the vote of 
all the proprietors to convey the whole, without deeds in legal form, 
cannot, from any precedent yet established, be justified." There were, 
however, some instances previous to that time, where without objection 
and solemn argument, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts allowed such 
votes of lands to strangers to have the same effect against co-tenants, 
as deeds of bargain and sale from one individual to another would have 
had. When, however, the question came directly before the courts for 
decision, so many and so large estates were found to depend upon the 
validity of this mode of conveyance, and so long had been the period 
during which it had been used, that the use was regarded as a practical 
construction of that portion of the statutes which empowers proprietors 
to manage and " dispose of their lands in such a way and manner as 
shall be agreed by the part," etc. ; and such conveyances were held good. 

The form of proprietary votes intended to operate as grants, and 
the ceremonies attending them in order to their completeness, vary in 
the different proprieties; each, as we have seen, by the construction put 
upon the enabling acts, being entitled to adopt its own mode of disposing 
of its common lands. In some it was by mere vote ; in others by a vote, fol- 
lowed up by a location and survey allowed by a committee, and recorded 
upon such allowance by the clerk. In the Great Kennebec Purchase, the 
mode of conveyance is for the proprietors " to vote, grant, and assign," the 
land specified in the vote to A. B., &c. ; whereupon the clerk gives the pur- 
chaser an instrument in the nature of a certificate of the vote, and in 
some degpree resembling a deed ; being under the seal of the corporation, 

187 



signed by the clerk, and by him acknowledged before a justice of the 
peace. 

The most liberal construction has always been given to ancient pro- 
prietary grants, in order to carry into effect the intent of the parties; 
the courts taking into view the customs, usages, and probably the want 
of legal learning amongst the early settlers. 

Technical rules of conveyancing are not strictly applied to votes and 
grants of this character; and estates in fee-simple have passed without 
any words of limitation in the vote, because it was apparent that the 
corporation meant to part with all their interest in the granted premises. 
A vote, merely authorizing the clerk to convey, is not, however, a con- 
veyance by vote, but in order to be effectual, must be followed up by a 
proper deed. Where proprietors voted, that " the income " of a piece 
of their land should be devoted to the support of a school in the town 
where it lay, the land to be leased from time to time by the selectmen 
of the town; this was considered to be a grant, so that the proprietors 
could not rescind it. A vote granting merely " the herbage or feeding 
of land " does not pass the soil, so that the grantee can maintain a writ 
of entry against the grantor, or those claiming under a subsequent grant 
of the soil. Nor does a vote, "that a hundred acres of the poorest land, 
&c., be left common for the use of the town for building-stones," convey 
the land to the town, but merely the particular use named, for the benefit 
of the present and future inhabitants of the town exclusively, in all 
modes, and for all purposes for which, in the progress of time and the 
arts, the material namtd in the vote might become useful. And where 
proprietors voted, that "at the request of A. B. is granted to the request 
of C. D. half an acre in the ten acre division," and it appeared from 
the proprietors' book of locations, that ng location had been made to 
A. B., and he was aided by no occupancy or possession, the court con- 
sidered that he could take no benefit from this vote, without proof that 
he derived some title from C. D. 

Proprietors have usually, by express enactment, power to raise money 
by tax, to be assessed to their several rights, in due proportion, for the 
purpose of bringing forward and settling their lands, and to defray the 

s88 



incidental expenses of the propriety, and when such assessments were 
not paid after certain periods, and certain notices had been given, and 
advertisements published, directed by the act, a committee, or the col- 
lector of the tax, were empowered from time to time, to sell at public 
auction so much of the delinquent proprietor's right or share in the 
common lands, as would be sufficient to pay the tax, &c. 

Where, as is, we believe, universally the case, it is necessary that 
the warrant calling the meeting should state the purposes for which 
it is convened, a vote to raise a certain sum, under an article in the 
warrant, to raise money for certain purposes, does not exhaust the 
efficacy of the article, but further sums may be lawfully raised at adjourn- 
ments of the same meeting, until the objects of the proprietors are 
effected. 

A vote of proprietors, "that the collector be empowered to give 
deeds of lands sold for taxes," can, of course, go no further than to sell 
the land of the delinquent proprietors in the mode provided by law. A 
collector's deed, in case of sale for taxes, however it may be worded, is 
not even prima facie evidence of legal sale; but the delinquency of the 
proprietor, and that the collector has pursued the authority to sell given 
in the statutes, must be independently proved. 

Proprietors of common and undivided lands, when duly organized, 
became a corporation, and held their lands as propriety; so that in the 
assertion of their proprietary rights, the proceedings must be conducted 
in that corporate name by which they are known and called in their 
own records. The members of the propriety are, however, as between 
themselves, tenants in common, as we have seen, entitled to partition by 
legal process. Each proprietor may sell and convey the whole, or any 
portion of his interest or right in the common or undivided lands; and 
his grantees become both tenants in common with the other proprietors, 
and members of the corporation. On the death of a proprietor, his heirs 
or devisees acquire the same rights. 

For further legal knowledge of the subject of proprietaries, refer- 
ence is made to The American Digests, Century Edition, Vol. lo. St. 

189 



Paul, West Publishing Co., 1899, under the title Common Lands, p. 
827, et seq. 



AttalgBia 

I. Nature, Creation and Existence of Commons. 

II. Proprietors. 

III. Title to Lands. 

IV. Control, Management and Use. 
V. Allotment or Partition. 

VI. Sales and Conveyances. 



190 



3aibtan Nam^a anb ICnralttfea 

Annawomscutt : The name of the brook flowing into the Cove, 
about fifty rods N. W. of the Railroad Station at West Harrington ; also 
of lands adjoining on the east and south ; meaning, at the shell rock or 
rock of shells ; as great quantities of shell fish were found on the shores 
of the coves and bay, the reference may be to mounds of shells which 
abound in this part of the town of Barrington. 

Chachacust : The Indian name of New Meadow Neck, now Hamp- 
den Meadows. 

Chachapacassett : The southern peninsula of Barrington, between 
Warren River and Narragansett Bay, sometimes known as Rumstick, and 
also Little Neck ; meaning, at or near the great widening. 

CoNSUMPSiT Neck: The Indian name of Mt. Hope Neck, one of 
the Indian reservations ; in length about nine and one-half miles, extend- 
ing from Bristol Ferry on the south to the neighborhood of King's Rocks 
on the north, and lying between Narragansett (or Sowams) Bay and 
Sowams River on the west, and Mount Hope Bay and Kickemuit River 
on the east; meaning, at the sharp rock, or where whetstones were gath- 
ered. 

Kickemuit : River, spring, and village on the east side of Mount 
Hope Neck ; meaning, at the great spring. 

Massassoit : The sachem of the Wampanoags. His real name was 
Osamequin. Prince spells his name as " pronounced by the ancient people, 
Massassoit " ; meaning, the great king. 

Mattapoysett : The name of the river, rising in Rehoboth and 
Dighton, flowing south into Mt. Hope Bay; now known as Cole's River, 
from Hugh Cole, who was one of the early settlers on Touisset Neck; 
also name of Neck between Cole's and Lee's Rivers. 

Metacom or Pometacom : Son of Massassoit, afterwards called 
Philip. 

191 



MossKiTUASH : The name of the creek that flows into Bullock's 
Cove, near and east of Riverside ; meaning, a place of reeds and rushes. 

MouscocHUCK : A creek, north of Nayatt which flows into the 
Bay about a half mile above Nayatt Point ; meaning, a meadow. 

Mattapoysett : The territory north of Mt. Hope Bay between 
Cole's and Lee's Rivers; deeded to William Brenton, of Newport, Gov- 
ernor, by King Philip, June, 1664; sold to Samuel Gardner and Ralph 
Chapman, 1693, for £1,700; since called Gardner's Neck. 

Mount Hope Neck : Called by the Indians Consumpsit Neck ; 
the peninsula lying between Mt. Hope Bay and the Kickemuit River on 
the east and Narragansett (or Sowams) Bay and the Sowams River on 
the west, and extending nine and one-half miles northerly from the south 
end of the peninsula to Rehoboth. The smaller peninsula of Poppa- 
squash is a part of this Neck. 

Narragansett : Indians, bay, and country. The Narragansett 
Indians laid claim to and occupied all the territory of Rhode Island, west 
of the Bay, Providence River and its tributary, the Pawtucket River. 
They gave their name to the southern portion of the Bay and to the 
land in the south part of the state, and joining the Bay. Roger Williams 
bought his lands of ]\Iiantonomi, chief sachem of the Narragansetts, as 
did the Warwick settlers. 

Nayatt: The name of the southwest point of Barrington, project- 
ing into Narragansett (or Sowams) Bay, near the Narragansett country; 
meaning, at the point. 

NocKUM': The name of the hill west of Hundred Acre Cove and 
at the head of the west branch of the Sowams (now Barrington) River. 

Pawtucket: The name of Providence River to Pawtucket Falls; 
meaning, the place of the great falls. 

Pokanoket: The western section of the territory occupied by the 
Wampanoags and bounded on the south and west by Narragansett 
(Sowams) Bay and Pawtucket River; meaning, cleared land. 

PoPANOMSCUTT : The name of the western peninsula of Barring- 
ton ; other name, Peebees or Phebes Neck ; meaning, at the shelter rock, 
or at the roasting rock. 

IQ2 



Peebees or Phebes Neck: The Indian name of the western or 
main neck of Barrington, called also Popanomscutt. Peebee was one of 
Philip's counselors and was killed at Myles Bridge, in the attack on 
Swansea, June, 1675. 

PoMETACOM or Metacom : Indian name of Philip, son of Massas- 
soit. 

Princes Hill: The name of a hill, near the center of the town 
of Barrington on the south bank of Barrington River, bearing the name 
of Governor Thomas Prince, one of the original proprietors; the name 
of Prince also is associated with the Pond near the hill, and also the 
cemetery on its summit. 

RuMSTiCK : Name of the southeastern point of Barrington. Origin 
of name unknown. Adrian Scott thinks it of Norse origin. 

RuNENS River : The upper part of the west branch of the Sowams 
or Barrington River. It was also known as Bowens or Bowens Bridge 
River. 

Seekonk: The territory north of Sowams, eight miles square, 
deeded to John Brown, Edward Winslow and others, by Osamequin in 
1641. It included the present towns of East Providence, Seekonk, Reho- 
both, and Pawtucket, east of Pawtucket Falls ; meaning, on or at the 
mouth of a river. 

Showamet : The Indian name of the territory between Lees River 
and the Taunton River, called Showamet Neck, now Somerset, Mass. It 
was sold by Plymouth Colony in 1676 to defray the expenses of Philip's 
War. For further reference see Totomommucke. 

Sowams : The Indian name of the whole of Barrington, including 
also small portions of the towns of East Providence, Seekonk, Rehoboth, 
and Swansea ; meaning, south country, or land on the south. 

SowAMSETT : Same as Sowams. 

Sowams River : The present Warren River, with its two branches, 
the Barrington and Palmers Rivers. Its length from the mouth to the 
head of navigation on each branch is about three miles. Later the east 
branch was known as Swansea River and the west branch as New 
Meadow River. 

193 



SowAMS Bay: The name given to that part of Narragansett Bay, 
between Warwick and Barrington and Bristol, by Miantonomi, chief 
sachem of the Narragansetts in his deed to Randall Holden and others, 
1642. 

Tom's Spring: A large spring on the south side of Mouscochuck 
Creek and west of the brick yards. The Sowams Records name three 
springs only, Scamscammuck, the largest, Kickemuit, the second in size, 
and Tom's Spring. Had there been a spring called Massassoit, it would 
undoubtedly have been mentioned. 

Swansea: The town founded by Rev. John Myles, John Brown 
and Thomas Willett and others, in 1667, occupying the Indian Sowams 
and the upper parts of Mount Hope Neck, Touissett, Mattapoysett and 
probably Showamett Necks. 

Scamscammuck : The name of a spring at the upper end of 
Chachapacassett Neck. This is the largest and most copious spring in 
Bristol county and one of the largest in the Wampanoag country. It is 
believed that Massassoit, while at peace with the Narragansetts, had his 
principal village near this spring; meaning, a red spring. A brook runs 
from the spring into Warren River. 

Touissett : The name of the territory or Neck north of Mt. Hope 
Bay, between the Kickemuit and Coles Rivers ; meaning, at or about the 
old fields. 

Wannamoisett : The name of the section about four square miles 
in area, on Providence River, extending about three miles north from 
the end of Bullock's Point; meaning, at the good fishing place. 

Wampanoags : The name of the tribe of Indians that occupied the 
territory bounded on the east and south by the Atlantic Ocean, west by 
the Seaconnet River, Narragansett (or Sowams) Bay and Pawtucket 
River, and north by the territory of the Massachusetts tribe, or Massa- 
chusetts Bay Colony ; the tribe of which Massassoit was chief sachem ; 
meaning, the people of the east land. 

Waypoyset: The name of the Narrows at the mouth of the 
Kickemuit River; meaning, at the narrows. 

194 



Wamsetta: The oldest son and successor of Massassoit as chief 
sachem of the Wampanoags, whose English name was Alexander. He 
succeeded to the government of the tribe on the death of his father, in 
1661 ; married Weetamoe, squaw sachem of Pocassett ; died suddenly, 
166 , and was succeeded by his brother Philip, known as King Philip. 

Watchemoquit : That part of Ancient Seekonk extending from 
the mouth of the Ten Mile River, along the Pawtucket and Providence 
Rivers to Wannamoisett. 



195 



Snhi^K 



PAGE 

Adams, James, . . . 102, 103 
John, 34, 35, 36, 55, 5S, 62, 65, 91. 

94, 126, 128, 130, 139, 145 
John Quincy, ... 22 
Plain, . . .79, 81, 98 

Agreement articles, 40, 41, 76, 77, 85, 

130, 131 
Second, . . 35, 130 
Original, ... 34 
Rehoboth, ... 36 

Akkompoin, 8, 9 

Alexander 8, 9, 23 

Allen, Daniel, 99, 100, loi, 102, 112, 114, 115 

Ebenezer, . . . 102, 145 

John, 24, 33, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47» 

49. 50, 53. 54. 61, 62, 65, 67, 

68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74. 75. 77. 78. 

79, 80, 81, 84, 85, 90, 95, 98, lOI, 

102, 132, 141, 142, 145 

John, Jr., . . 92, 93, 145 

Joseph, . . . .109 

Mr., 46, 49, 59, 81, 84, 92, 95 

Samuel, 106, 107, 109, 115, 116, 

117, 145, 146 

Allerton, Isaac 139 

Mary, .... 139 

AUin, Matthew, 104, 107, no, 120, 145, 146 

Thomas, 96, 98, 115, 116, 117, 118, 

119, 120, 121, 122, 145, 146, 170 

William, 63, 79, 81, 93, 94, 142, 145 

Amie, 8 

Anoawomscutt, . . . .191 

Creek, 63, 79, 81, 142 

Aquidneck, ... 21, 163, 171 

Arithmetic, i44 

Arrows 6, 7 

Articles of Confederation, . . 21 
Atlantic Ocean, . . • 8, 152 



Baker, John, 



104, 145 



Balcom, Lydia, 

Baptists, . 

Baptist Meeting House, 

Barker, Elizabeth, . 

Barnes, Samuel, . i 
Thomas, 91, 92 

Barneysville, . 

Barrington, 11, 18. 19, 2 
ic6, 108, 109, 114, 115 
119, 120, 121, 126, 127 
144, 145, 151, 152, 154 
162, 163, 164, 168, 169 

173. 174 
Bartrem, Wra., 
Bartrums, . *■ 
Bass, 

Baylies, Francis, 
Beads, 

Belcher's Cove, 
Belcher's Creek, 
Belknap's Am. Biog 
Belknap, Jeremy, 
Bicknell, James, 
Joshua, 
Zachariah 
Boston, 

Bosworth, Jonathan 
Bounds of Lots, 
Bowen, Henry, 

Obadiah, 

Richard, 
Bowen's Bridge, 
Bows and Arrows, 
Bradford, Alice, 



PAGE 
. 96 

134. 464 

• 144 

. 136 

04, 106, 109, 145 

94, 95, 104, 145 

• 144. 173 

I, 103, 104, 105. 

116, 117, 118, 

132. 135. 139. 

158, 159, 161, 

171. 172. 



170 

. 69 

. 144 

10 

136. 153 

7 

. 167 

55. 61. 67 

58, 159, 172 

• 171 

108, 145 

115, ii8, 145 

102, 103, 145 

22, 158, 162, 164 

46, 49, 50, 54, 145 

. 54 to 95 

114, 115, 116. 145 

69, 156 

37. 39. 145 

38. 39, 82 

. 6, 7 

. 138. 139 

William, 3, 4, 8, 11, 19, 26, 34, 

35, 36, 62, 67, 90, 95, 99, 125, 

126, 128, 130, 135.137, 138, 139, 

145, 151, 152, 154, 157. 171 

Brewster, William 132 

Bridgewater 21, 165 



PAGE 

Bridge, Willet's 105 

Briggs, Walter, . . . -155 
Bristol, 17, 23, 104, 105, 106, 108, III, 114, 
118, 120, 121, 127, 144, 152, 15S, 160, 
166, 168, 174 
Broad Cove, . . . .65, 66, 82 
Brooks, Gilbert, .... 40 
Brooks Pasture, . 61, 166, 167, 168 
Brown, Benjamin, 104, 105, 106, 108, 

109, no, 145 
Charles, . no, 112, 114, 145 
Daniel, 104, 105, 108. 109, ii2« 
114. 145 
Francis, . . . 136, 153 
Hezekiah, . 106, no, in, 114 
Isaac, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, 

119. 145 

Jabez, 104, 105, 106 108, 109, 145 

James, 24, 33, 37, 42, 44, 45. 46 

47. 49. 50, 54. 57. 62, 63, 68 

70, 71. 73. 74. 76, 77. 73. 80 

81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89 

95, 96, 104, no, 129, 140, 141 

142, 145 

James, Jr., 96, 115, 116, 118, 119 

Jesse, . . . 119, 145 

John, 18, 23, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 

42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50. 51, 

53. 54. 55. 57. 62, 63, 64. 67, 

68, 70, 71, 73, 75, 77, 78, 80, 

81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 

94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 114, 129, 130, 

132, 133. 134. 141. 142, 145. 

157. 159. 160, 164, 168, 172 

Joseph, 104, 105, no, 114, 145 

Mary, 133, 134, 140, 141, 144, 

145, 146 

Mr., . . .38, 87, 162, 172 

Nathaniel, ... 87 

Oliver, . . 120, 121, 145 

Peter, . . 112, 114, 145 

Samuel, 96, loi, 103, 104, no, 

III, 145 

The, . . . . 56, 57 

Bullock's Cove, . . . .161 

Burial Hill 26 



PAOE 

Burton, Stephen 143 

Butterworth, John, 84, 85, 145, 167, 172 
Byfield, Nathaniel 134 



Callender, Rev, 



Canoes, 
Canonicus, 
Cape Cod, 
Cape Towns, 
Capron, Bamfield, 
Carpenter, Daniel, 



John, 162, 163, 164, 171 



. 56 
158, 169, 184 
. 3. 4. 163 
21, 23 
loi, 145 
106, 109, 112, 113 
William, 40, 41, 45, 47, 77, 
132, 156 

Careswell, 137 

Cartway, . . .53, 74, 75, 80 

Carver, Governor, . . 20, 138, 152 

Cattle 78 

Chachacust, 19, 36, 128, 142, 143, 161, 

170, 172, 191 
Chachapacassett, 49, 51, 73, 75, 142, 143, 

170, 171, 191 

Chaffee, John, 102, 106, 107, 108, 145 

Joseph, 42, 46, 50, 68, 85, 90, 

91, 92, 93, 94, 95, loi, 102, 

106, 107, 108, 145 

Hezekiah, Dr., . . 109 

Nathaniel, . . 42, 145 

Thomas, 41, 44, 45, 47, 49, 52, 

62, 70, 72, 84, 85, 132, 141, 

142, 145 

Chandler, Jacob, . . 120, 121, 146 

Charles the First, . . . .152 

Cheeseboro, W., . . . .25 

Christian Religion 127 

Clarke, John, . .18, 19, 162, 163, 171 

Thos., 34, 36, 58, 60. 61, 90, 93, 94, 

126, 128, 130, 140 

Clarke's Creek, . . . -55 

Claypits 66 

Cobb, William, • . . 102, 145 
Cock Point Neck, . . . 79, 81 

Cohasset River 152 

Cole, Hugh, 24, 55, 156, 166, 167, 168, 172 

Cole's Creek, 55 

Cole's River 24, 173 

Collier, Mary, 132 



PAGE 

Common Fence, .... 38 

Lands 83 

Lots, ... 62, 84 

Confederation of Colonies, . 21, 22 

Consumpsit Neck, 24, 127, 143. 152, 157, 

160, i63, 191 

Cooper 96 



Thomas, 
Copasanatuxett 
Corbitant, 
Corn, 



37. 39 
• 153 
12, 13 
4, 41, 76, 78 



Court, Plymouth, 33, 34, 53, 125, 127, 

155. 162 

Cushman, Robert, . . . .132 

Thomas, 17, 34, 35, 36, 40, 59, 

64, 66, 92, 126, 128, 132, 

138, 145 

Davis. Simon, . . . 102, 145 

December, 4. 25 

Deed, Grand, 36, 54 to 68, 128, 129, 140, 

142, 143 

Delaware Bay, 163 

Dighton, 153 

Discourse, Callender's Historical, . 164 
Division of Brown Lands, . 85 to 90 
Division of Lands, 33, 34. 35, 53 to 76, 82 
to 85, 89 to 96 
Dixey, John, .... 92, 145 

Dudley, Thomas 159 

Dutch, . . II, 18, 134, 138, 158, 159 
Duxbury, ... 20, 127, 136 

Dyer, Col. H. Anthony, . . i34 

East Providence, . . . 152, 169 

Elizabeth, Queen I35 

England, 3, 4, 5. i7. 18, 132, 135, 136, 

138, 139 

New, . . 136, 137. 152 

English, 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 

23, 24, 134, 151 

Fence, . . 38. 39- 40, 67, 77. 99 

Common, . . 38. 48, 82, 83 
Fessenden, Guy M., . 26, 153, 168 
Floyd, Noah, 68, 76, 77. 78. 85, 86, S7 
Forefather's Day, .... 25 



Fort, Indian, . 
Freeman, Mary, 
Fuller, Capt., . 

Garrett, Richard, 
Garrison, Myles, 
General Court, 
Gorton, Samuel, 
Grand Deed, 36, 61 

Grammar, 
Great Britain, 
Great Lots, 
Great Rivers, . 
Greek, 

Greene, John, . 
Greenwich, East, 
Guin, Thomas, 



PAGE 

. . . 58 
132 

• 155 

37. 140 

. 144 

33 

• 153 
et seq. 64, et seq. 

128, 129, 143 
. 144 
20 
71, 72, 73, 93 
36, 61 

• 144 

• 153 
97 

97. 145 



Halifax, . 

Hampden, John, 

Hampden Meadows 

Heath, Nathaniel, 

Hebrew, . 

High water Mark, 

Highways, 49, 50, 51, 52, 71, 
81, 83, 84, 103, 113, 

Hill, Thomas, . 

Historical Society (R. I.). 

Hitt, Thomas, . 

Hobbamock, 

Holland, . 

Hope, Mt., 21, 24, 56, 57, 
158, 159, 168 

Hopkins, Steven, . 

Howard, William, . 

House, School, 

Howland, John, 
Ruth, 

Hubbard's History, 

Hummocks, 

Humphrey, Elkanah, 120 
John, . 
Josiah, 
Samuel, 

Hundred Acres, 



ao 

II, 12, 17, 19 

19 

120, 121, 145 

144 

. . 38 

et seq. 79, 80, 

114, 116, 119 

. 104, 145 

19. 174 

25 

II, 12, 13, 18 

. 13S 

59, 156, 157. 

, 169, 170, 172 

9, II, 17, 20 

167 

95 

139 

139 

157 
61, 66 

121, 145, 146 
120, 121, 145 

• 117. 145 
. 145 
38, 173 



PAGE 

Hunt, 5 

Daniel, .... 112, 145 
Peter, 41. 42, 44, 45, 46. 47. 5o. 62, 

68, 69, 70, 83, 85, 90, 93, 132, 

140, 141, 142, 145 
William, . . .119, 145 



Hutchinson, Eliakim, 
Hides Hole, 



78 



Indians, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 
30, 135. 144, 158, 159, 161, 162, 174 

Indian Fort 58 

Ingraham, Island 97 

Ingraham, Mary, ... 96, 98 

Richard, . . 97, 145 

William, 96, 97, 98, 145, 156, 16S 

Inhabitant, Ancient, ■ • • 33 

James I, King, . . 6, 7, 125, 127 

Jenckes, Sarah, .... 87 
Jethros Cellar, .... 88 

Kennebec, ..... 125 

Kennebecks, 5. 18 

Kent, Ezra, Jr 120, 145 

Joseph 95, 145 

Kickerauit, 24, 25, 29, 36. 55, 56, 129, I43> 

158, 160, 170, 172, 191 

Kickemuit River, 160, 161, 168, 172, 173 

Kickemuit Spring, . . . 155,156 

King James, 6, 7 

Kingston, 20 



Lands, Arable, ... 78; 

Bounds of, . . 36, 37, 44 

Choice of, . . . 35, 

Division of, 34, 35, 42, 43, 47, 

55. 69, 73. 89, 90, 91, 92, 104, 



, 80, 81, 82 
loi, 142 



Purchase of. 
Records of, . 

Little Neck, 

London, . 

Long Island, 

Long Line, 

Lots, Great, 



71. 



33. 34. 36 

33. 42. 45 

46. 49. 51 

17, 19. 

51 

72, 73. 93. 94 



130 
48. 
130 
37 
, 50 
,85 
135 
163 
, 52 
. 95 



FA6B 

Common, . . .46, 62, 64 

Home, 44, 46, 47, 51, 52, 69, 70, 71 

Long 44 

Pastors and Teachers, . . 130 

Low, Anthony, 44, 48, 49, 52, 53, 59, 68, 

71, 92, 94, 95, 145 

Samuel, . . 101, 102, 103, 145 

Luther, Samuel, . . 155, 167, 168 



Maine, 
Manhattan, 
Map of R. I., . 
Martin, Robert, 
Marshfield, 
Mason, Samuel, 
Massachusetts, 



5 

. 134 

. 151 

41 

20, 127 

77. 89 

16, 17, 18, 21, 108, 

152, 153 

Massachusetts Hist. Soc. . . 171 

Massassoit, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 

17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 

28, 2g, 30, 126, 127, 128, 132, 137, 138, 

151, 153, 154, 157, 158, 159. 162, 163, 

168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 191 

Massassoit Spring 174 

Mather, Cotton 16 

Mattapoysett, 10, 12, 13, 34, 125, 144, 

191, 192 
Mayflower, ... 3, 135, 136 

Meadows, Salt and Fresh, 36, 38, 39, 43, 
44. 53. 54. 55. 56, 57. 58, 59. 60, 61, 62, 
63, 64, 65, 66, 67 
Medbury, John, . 84, 85, 92, 93, 145 
Metacom or Pometacom, 8, 9, 191, 193 
Miantonomi, . . 22, 153, 157, 168 

Middleboro, 9, 25 

Millard, Robert, . . 68, 69, 145 

Miller, W. J., . . . . 18, 173 
Mitchell, Experience, 34, 36, 64, 92, 126, 

128, 145 

Mohegans, 22 

Morton, Nathaniel, 33, 155, 157, 162, 169 
Mosskituash, . 36, 128, 160, 161, 192 

Mt. Hope, 57, 58, 59, 155, 156, 157, 168, 
169, 170, 171, 172 
Mt. Hope Neck, 55, 56, 59, 155, 157, 160, 

168, 192 





PAGE 


. 




5 




88, 


192 


^ • 63, 


73, 88 


,96 




172, 


174 


. 141 


. 144, 


164 


9, 


10, 12 


. 25 

8 



Mourt's Relations, 
Mouscochuck, . 
Mouscochuck Creek 
Mumford, John, 
Myles Bridge, . 
Rev. John, 

Namasket, 

Namumpam, . 

Narragansetts, 20, 21, 22, 138, 151, 158, 

159. 192 
Bay, ... 8 

River or Bay, 152, 153 

160, 168, 170, 171 

Nayatt, 51, 63, 88, 89, 96, 136, 170, 171, 192 

New Bristol 33 

New England, . . . .152 

Newman, Deacon, . . . 100, 145 

Samuel, 41, 47, 49, 50, 51, 54, 

62, 63, 70, 72, 73, 74, 84, 85, 

88, 132, 141, 148, 164 

New Meadows, .... 162 

New Meadow Neck, 19, 24, 35, 38, 39, 64, 

69, 84, 144, 159, 161, 165, 

168, 170, 172, 174 

River, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69 

New Plymouth, 33, 34, 76, 151, 155, i6g 

Newport, 171 

Newton, Eleanor 139 

New York 134 

Nichols, Col., 134 

Nockum 192 

Nockum Hill, 144 

Osamequiu, 33, 36, 37, 42, 53, 55, 128, 129, 

140, 155 
Original Agreement, . . 34, 183 
Our State, 121 

Paine, Benjamin, ... 90, 145 

John, . . 74, 94, loi, 104 

Nathaniel, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 54, 

99, loi, 145 

Stephen, 37, 39, 41. 42, 44, 45, 46, 

47, 48, 49, 50, 54, 56, 57. 59- 60, 

61, 68, 75, 76, 83, 84, 85, 93, 132, 

140, 141, 145 



PAGE 

Paine, Stephen, Jr., . 44, 45, 145 

Palmer Farm, 66 

Palmer's River, . 24, 158, 159, 166 
Pawtucket River, 38, 39, 126, 151, 157, 

160, i6j 

Patuxet, ... 5, 10, 14, 39, 125 

Peck, Ebenezer, . 120, 121, 122, 145 

FredS., . . . .147 

Israel, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, 54, 63, 

68, 84, 85, 91, 94, 95, 98, 99, 100, 

loi, 102, 103. 104, 145 

John, . 49, 68, 70, 73, 76, 91, 

Joseph, 40, 41, 54, 62, 63, 65, 132, 

140, 141, 145 

Nathaniel, 42, 47, 50, 63, 68, 69, 84, 

90, 91, 94, 95, 98, 99, 100, loi, 102, 

103, 104, 107, 109, no, 145, 156 



Nathaniel, Jr., 
Nicholas, 
Samuel, . 
Solomon, 115, 
Solomon, Jr., 



116 



• 145, 156 

40, 69, 145, 156 

. 50, 68, 99 

117, 120, 145 

146 



Peebes or Phebes Neck, 18, 48, 50, 51, 61, 

69, 73. 76, loi, 102. 103, 109, no, 163, 

165, 170, 171, 173, 193 

Pelham, Penelope, .... 137 

Pemberton, Benjamin, . 96, 97, 145 

Pequots 22, 158, 173 

Perrin, Abraham, . . 50, 68, 64, 85 
Pettis, Obadiah, . . . 102, 146 
Philip, 8, 9, 23, 24, 157, 161, 166, 16S, 

169, 174 

Philip's War 24, 137 

Pilgrims, . 3, 4, 9, 20, 21, 25, 126, 127 

Plymouth, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 

18, 20, 22, 23, 26, 34, 125, 127, 133, 134, 

136, 151, 152, 253, 154. 155. 157. 158, 

159. 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 172 

Plymouth Colony, . .18, 20, 23, 26 



Court, 
Records, 



Plympton, 
Pocassett, 



. 9, 38, 127 

154. 155, 159 

20 

. 8, 24 



Pokanoket, 9, 13, 125, 151, 152, 157, 15S, 

159, 168, 171, 172, 174, 190 

Pomam 153, i68 



PAGE 

Pometacora 8, 9 

Popanomscutt, 18, 24, 42, 46, 47, 48, 

50, 51. 55. 60, 61, 69, 90, 99, 104, 142, 

174. 192 

Poppasquash, 36, 55, 57, 129, 161, 169, 170 

Prince, Thomas, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 64, 67, 

90, 125, 126, 128, 129, 132, 133, 145, 160, 

161, 169, 170, 172 

Princes Hill, .... 132, 193 

Pond, 60 

Proprietors, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 

42, 44, 45, 51, 95, 127, 

130, 174, 180 

Agreement, 35, 130, 131 

Classes, . . . 184 

Clerk, 33, 50, III, 112, 113^ 

114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 

120, 121, 122, 141 

Common Lands, 183, 185, i89 

Division of Lands, . 184 

Meeting, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 

50, 67, loi, 103, 109, no, 

III, 112, 113 

Public Lands, . . 185 

Records, . 169, 180, 182 

Sales for Money, . 186 

To Non-Proprietors, . 187 

Surveys, . . . 184 

Taxes 188 

Proprietary, . . . 125, 127, 179 

Conveyances, . 187, 188 

Meetings, 181, 182, 188, 189 

New England, . .179 

New England Location, 179 

Officers, . . . 181 

Pennsylvania, . . 180 

Titles, 181. 182, 183, 184, 186 

Votes, . , . 187, 188 

Providence, . . .158. 163, 173 

River, . . . 153, 171 

W. & B. R. R., . 19 

Provincetown, .... 3, 13S 

Prudden, Joanna, .... 134 

Prudence Island 153 



Quadequina, 



5. 6. 8. 9 



Quakers, . 



PAGE 

133 



Records 33. 42 

Rehoboth, 21, 23, 24, 25, 33, 37, 38, 39, 40, 
41, 47. 53. 67. 68, 69, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 
84, 85, 86, 87, 90, 95, loi, 105, 108, 109, 
III, 112, 113, 114, 115, 118, 119, 120, 
121, 140, 146, 157, 159, 160, 162, 164, 
165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170 
Rehoboth, Bliss's History of . . 141 

Rhetoric 144 

Rhode Island, . . 57, 163, 164 

Rhode Island Hist. Soc, . 19, 174 

Rice's Neck 84, 92 

Richmond, John 156 

John R., . . 120. 145 

Peleg 112 

Robinson, Increase, . . , 156 
Rev. John, . . .17 

Rocky Cove, 57 

Rock Run 56 

Rocky River, .... 65 
Rumstick, . . 99, 100, 169, 193 
Runen's River 193 

Sabin, Samuel 76 

William, ... 37, 39 

Saffin, John, 33, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 
53. 54. 68, 70. 73, 75, 76, 88, 89, 
99, 100, 144, 145, 146 

Sagamore, 5. 21 

Samoset, 5. 21 

Scamscammuck, . . . 174, 194 
Scamscammuck Spring, 49, 51, 100 

School House, .... 95 

Scituate, 126 

Seekonk, 36, 127, 146, 151, 152, 157, 159, 

160, 163, 170, 193 

Shepardson, Daniel, ... 90 

Showamett, 153, 154, 155, 156, 173, 193 

Slanie, 5 

Smith, Henry, 40, 41, 57 62, 68, 69, 84, 

132, 140, 145 
James, . . . .145 

Joshua, . . 68, 69, 145 

Joshua T., .... 171 



PAGE 

Southworth, Constant, . . 132, 155 
Sowams, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 
24, 25. 26, 27, 28, 29, 34, 35, 
39, 40, no. Ill, 112, 113, 
114, 117, 118, 120, 121, 125, 
126. 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 
133. 134. 136, 140. 141. 142, 
143. 144, 145, 146, 149. 151. 
152, 153. 154. 157. 158, 159. 
161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 
167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 
173. 174. 175. 193 
Bay, . 151, 153. 168, 194 

Grand Deed of, 36, 37, 142, 
143. J44 
Guide Points, 142, 143, 144 
Officers, . . . 146, 147 
Proprietors, 33 to 122, 145, 146 
Records, . 33 to 122, 154, 

River, 35, 37, 38. 130. 146, I57. 
159, 160, 162, 170, 172, 173 
Taxes, . . . 165, i66 
Spring, John Brown's, . . .186 
Squanto, . . 5. 8, 11. 18, 20, 157 

Standish, Myles, 4, 6, 17, 18, 25, 34. 35, 
36, 37, 38, 39, 52, 63, 90, 92, 125, 126, 
128, 129, 130, 133, 135. 145. 157. 158, 
160, 173 
Sunconewhew, .... 8 

Surveyor, . . . .40. 47. 49 

Swamp, Dead, . . 46. 51. 53. 72 

Swamps 53. 60 

Swansea, 10, 21, 23, 24, 33, 68, 69, 76, 78, 
79, So, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 
88, 95, 96, 97. 99. loi. 102, 
III, 112, 113, 114. "5. 118, 
120, 121, izs, 127. 141. 144. 
146, 154, 155. 156, 157. 158, 
159, 164, 166, 167, 169, 170, 
171. 172, 273, 174. 194 
River, . . . 60, 61. 82 



Taunton, 21, 23, 134, 141. i5i. 158, i73 
Green, .... 10 
River 10 







PAOK 


Taxes, 


. 


. 165 


Tiffany. Ebenezer, . 


. 


102, 145 


Recompence, 




108, 146 


Timber, . 


. 


• 39 


Tobacco, 


. 


. 27 


Tom's Spring, . 


. 73. 89. 


174. 194 


Torrey, Samuel, 


. 


. 103 


Torrey's Creek, 




82 


Totomommucke, 


23. 144. 


154. 156 


Touissett, 


24, 


173. 194 


Town Meeting, 




• "7 


Townsend, Solomon, 


• 145 


147. 170 


Solomon, 


Jr., 114, ] 


15, 116, 


118, 119 


120, 121, 


122, 145 


Trade, Place of 


. 


144. 17 


Troop of Horse, 




. 167 


Trumbull, 




25 


Turner, Josiah, 




102, 145 


Thomas, . 


. 


102, 145 


Tustin, . 


. 


144. 173 


Tyler's Point, . 


• 


• 144 


Uncas, 




22 


Unkompoin, . 


. 


. 24 



Viall, Allin 120, 145 

Benjamin, loi, 102, 103, 104, 105, 

108, III, 115, 119, 145, 146 

John, 33, 54, 68, 76, 77. 78, 79, 80, 

81, 82, 87, 94, 145 

Jonathan. . 99, loi, 102, 145 

Nathaniel, in, 112, 113, 114, 115, 

116, 117, 119, 146 

Samuel, . . . 115, 145 

Vintner, John Viall, ... 80 

Wading, Place 96 

Walker's Creek, ... 57, 58 

Walker, Philip, 40, 41, 57, 62, 69, 84^ 

132, 141, 145 

Samuel, ... 49, 145 

Wampanoags, 8, 18, ai, 151, 16S, 173, 194 

Wamsetta, 8, 9, 33, 36, 37, 53, 55. 128, 

129, 140, 169, 195 



Wannamoisett, 23, 134, 141, 144, 146, 161, 
164, 165, 170, 172, 194 

Wareham, 20 

Warren, 109, iii, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 
117, 120, 121, 127, 146. 153, 154, 157, 
158, 160, 164, 167, 170, 172, 173, 174 



Warwick, 


153. 


169, 


173 


Watchemoket Neck, 






lOI 


Watchemoquit, 






195 


Waypoyset, 




56, 


194 


Weirs, 




151, 


173 


Weetamo, 






8,9 


Wheaton, John, 






167 


Joseph, . 


Ill, 


145. 


146 


Whitaker, Richard, 




69, 


145 


White, Mr., . 






34 



Peregrine, 34, 66, 126, 136, 139, 145 
Resolved, 34, 35, 41, 56, 66, 92, 
93, 126, 130, 139, 145 
Susanna, . . . 136, 139 
William, 36, 128, 129, 139, 140, 145 
Whittier, ...... 131 

Willett, Andrew, ... 93, 145 



Willett, Thomas, 18, 23, 24, 34, 35, 36, 
37. 38, 39. 40. 41. 42, 47. 55, 
56, 58, 59. 60, 63, 64, 65, 66, 71, 
73. 78, 79. 90, 105, 126, 128, 129, 
130, 132, 133, 134, 140, 141, 145, 
152, 160, 164, 172 

Williams, John 155 

Roger, 18, 23, 163, 164, 171 

Williamson, 6 

Winslow, Edward, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 

18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 

28, 30, 126, 136, 137, 140, 145, 

152, 157, 158, 159, 160, 173 

Job, ... 55, 56 

John, 34, 35, 36, 40, 59, 60, 65, 

90, 93, 125, 128, 130, 145, 155 

Josiah. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 

61, 65, 66, 67, 94, 128, 129, 

130, 136, 137, 160 

Knelm, 34, 35, 126, 130, 145 

Winthrop, . . . 158, 159, 173 



Winthrop's Journal, 
Women, . 
Woodcock, John, 
Wootonekanuske, . 



158. 178 

23 

40 

9 



SnhtK 0f 3Uu0tratt0n0 



Portrait ot Thomas Williams Bicknell, Opposite title page 

Portrait of Captain Myles Standish, a Sowams Proprietor, . . . page 5 
Portrait of Edward Winslow, Governor, a Sowams Proprietor, Opposite page 12 
Tyler's Point and Cemetery, at the Confluence of the Two Branches 

of the Sowams River " "23 

Title Page of Sowams Records, " "30 

First Original Agreement in Sowams Records " "34 

Photograph of Grand Deed of Sale from Ousamequin, 1653, ^^ 

Sowams Records Opposite pages 36 and 37 

Ancient House built by William Allin about 1664, . . . Opposite page 62 

Photograph of page 35 in Sowams Records, .... " 

Beach on Sowams or Narragansett Bay " 

Ancient Brown House and Elm " 

Photograph of Last Page of Sowams Records. 1797, with Autographs 

of Moderator and Clerk, ....... " 

Residence of Brigadier-General Thomas Allin, .... " 

Map of Indian Localities about Narragansett and Mount Hope Bays, " 
Interior and Exterior of Ancient Congregational Meeting-House, 

Barrington, Rhode Island " 

The Town Hall, Barrington, Rhode Island, .... *' 

Portrait of Josiah Winslow, a Sowams proprietor, ... " 

Autographs of some Sowams Proprietors and others, ... *• 
Autograph Signatures of a Number of the Sowams Proprietors and 

Others, 

Photographs of the Committee of Twenty Citizens of Barrington. on 

the Barrington Centennial, June, 1870, including the Poet, Heze- 

kiah Butter worth " 

The Matthew Watson House at Nayatt " 

The Myles Garrison House at Sowams and Swansea, now Barneys- 

ville, " 

Copy of a part of an Ancient Map of New England, Morton's Memo- 
rial, 1677, , . . . " 

Copy of a part of Map Showing Boundary Line fixed by Commission 

in 1742 • • " " 170 

"Pokanocket yi//aj Saywamset," see Swansey on Map, . . .... j^j 

Sowams /i//a5 Barrington — From Part of Ancient Map, . . .... j^j 

Mr. Bicknell in His Library, Providence, Rhode Island "196 



64 

73 

104 

121 
122 
124 

123 

132 

137 
145 

146 



151 
156 

164 

170 



JUN 33 1308 



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